Bathroom confusion leads to protest at North Buncombe High School
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) - On Monday, students at North Buncombe High School walked out of class to protest boys in the girl's bathroom.
“I don’t feel safe going to school at all,” said BCHS Junior Sylvia Gardner. “I wanted to get out of school for this.”
Gardner says she noticed changes last week.
“All they have to do is pretty much say they identify as a girl if they want and just walk in there,” said Gardner.
But Buncombe County Schools officials say that’s not correct.
“Our policy looks at it on a case-by-case basis through an interview process to look at what can we do to provide support for that student as well as make sure they are in a safe secure learning environment,” said Buncombe County Schools Student Services Director David Thompson.
Thompson is referencing the Gender Support Guidelines, which was adopted in 2017.
He said it ensures only students who have gone through this process may have access to the bathroom of the gender they identify with.
“I agree they should feel safe, I agree whatever their choice their family deserves the same kind of support as any other child in that school,” said Michele Dillingham, a BCHS parent. “However, what I would like to see moving forward is seven pages supporting my non-transgender child.”
Several other accusations have also been swirling around.
Including that the school took down the girl’s bathroom signs and that a male teacher used the girl's restroom.
“There has never been a faculty member, a male faculty member, using any student restrooms there, nor has any school official taken down any signs on restrooms, that is an act a student did and it’s being addressed by school administration,” said Thompson.
Protesters said they would like to see more single stall restrooms for transgender students.
“I don’t have a problem with people identifying as the opposite sex, at all, this is not what this is about,” said Gardner. “They can be whatever they want to be. That’s completely up to them. I just don’t want them coming in on us.”
Thompson said they want to hear all the students concerns.
The students protesting hope to meet with the Buncombe County Schools Superintendent Tony Baldwin.
School officials sent a phone message to parents late Monday evening, explaining the situation.
