Collier school board discusses federal transgender mandate

NAPLES, Fla. – The Collier County school board is expected to discuss a recent mandate from the federal government that requires that schools allow transgender students to use bathrooms school facilities aligned with their gender identity.

School board members have already said they would consider passing up $57 million in funding and increasing taxes to avoid the mandate. On Tuesday, they heard from the public.

Transgender children commit suicide at alarmingly high rates. Alex Crisci, a freshman at Barron Collier High School, said he does not want to see LGBT students bullied.

“I think people go outside the normal binary they get criticized for it,” he said.

But there are others, like Rep. Matt Hudson, who don’t agree that directive should be heeded. Hudson said the federal mandate is extortion.

In the meeting there was a mixture of support and opposition split nearly in half. A total of 33 people spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting Tuesday.

A nearly equal number of people expressed their disapproval. Rep. Matt Hudson said the federal mandate is extortion.

“Frankly, they have no authority to do that. I mean, it’s not allowed. Just that simple,” he said.

The school board has not determined whether the federal government had legal grounds to issue the mandate. The board’s attorney suggests working with kids and parents on a case-by-case basis. The board is not ready to put together a formal plan and is in need of further discussion, the attorney said.