(The Center Square) – School leaders in New Richmond, Wisconsin could soon be answering questions from federal investigators about their school bathrooms.
The U.S. Department of Education announced an investigation into New Richmond’s bathroom policy that allows biological males to use the girls or women’s restroom.
“Young women should never be forced to share intimate spaces with boys and men because school leaders care more about radical gender ideology than protecting girls’ safety, dignity, and privacy. School board members who ignore these allegations are failing the families they serve. This Administration will investigate this complaint fully and address any violations it discovers promptly,”
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey said in a statement.
New Richmond’s school board last month voted down a proposal to change its bathroom policy. Dozens of New Richmond students, almost all of them young women, told school leaders how worried or uncomfortable they are about biological males in their bathrooms.
In response, New Richmond Schools told those young women that they can use a single-stall restroom on the other side of the school building.
Republican congressman and candidate for governor Tom Tiffany took to social media on Thursday to cheer the federal investigation.
“The U.S. Dept. of Ed is launching a Title IX investigation into the New Richmond School District for allowing men in girls’ bathrooms. It’s sick that @GovEvers refuses to stand up for female students,” he wrote. “As governor, I will protect girls’ spaces and put an end to this nonsense.”
The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, which offered New Richmond Schools a new bathroom policy, also weighed in.
“For too long, school districts in Wisconsin (and across the country) have allowed policies that force young girls to share private spaces with biological males. Really great news to see the U.S. Department of Education taking action to enforce Title IX as intended,” WILL’s Cory Brewer said.
There is no word from the Department of Education as to when the investigation will start, or when it may question local school leaders.
New Richmond’s school board has not responded to the investigation. The school board there is set to meet again March 16.
