The district will continue to follow the unwritten procedure where district administrators work closely with each family and transgender student on ways to accommodate their gender identity, Merlie said.

Attorney Gareth Pahowka of York is the solicitor for South Middleton along with the Carlisle, Big Spring and Mechanicsburg school districts. He works for the law firm of Stock and Leader, which represents 17 school districts in five counties.

Back in May, the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Office and the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights issued a joint letter outlining the federal government’s position on accommodating transgender students.

Since then, school districts have been busy reviewing the implications that letter has on policy, Pahowka said. The letter states the public school system should treat each student consistent with their gender identity that might be different from their birth gender.

There have been no cases brought before the federal court jurisdiction for Pennsylvania, and the state Department of Education has yet to weigh in on this issue, Pahowka said. He added the national election could also have some influence on how the transgender issue is interpreted by the federal government.