GRASS LAKE, MI - Transgender students in Grass Lake Community Schools can continue using the bathroom of the gender they identify as, but changes are being made to ensure the privacy of all students.

The Grass Lake School Board announced Monday, Aug. 21, it will continue to follow a December 2016 ruling made by the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati. The court's decision is a guideline to allow transgender students to use the bathroom of the gender they identify as.

The district will follow that ruling until it's either supported or overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, Grass Lake Superintendent Ryle Kiser said.

The bathroom issue arose in Grass Lake last school year after a transgender student at George Long Elementary School was allowed to use the boys' bathroom -- the gender the student identifies as.

A debate grew within the community and was perpetuated on social media. The board heard more than 25 public comments from both sides during its Aug. 14 meeting, which was attended by more than 100 people.

The plan announced Monday includes building stalls with lockable doors around every urinal in all boys' bathrooms in the district, Kiser said, starting with those in the elementary school.

All of the toilets in girls' bathrooms throughout the district already have stalls with lockable doors.

Terri Neely, the mother of the transgender student attending George Long Elementary School, said the board's recent statement is a step in the right direction.

"The school (board) made a brave decision," she said. "(My son) understands the long-term benefit and the efforts the school is making on his behalf. But he is so incredibly sad and emotional. He struggles to understand why people want to treat him differently. Regardless of his body, he sees himself as just a regular boy."

Her son will not use the boys' bathrooms at the school until the stalls are built, Neely said. He will use a unisex bathroom, she said.

Parent Tammy Gerlach, whose child also attends George Long Elementary School, however, said the board's decision is not satisfactory.

"We are not OK with (the board's) decision to just put stalls around urinals because it doesn't cover lockerooms in the middle and high schools," she said. "Are they going to put stalls around the showers? I'm freaking pissed right now. I'm livid.

"This is not just about the elementary school. I think (the board) forgot that. We are not happy."

The board hopes to move forward while catering to the needs of all students, Kiser said.

"We are attempting to create a procedure that will provide a safe and private environment for all of our students," he said.

The Grass Lake Health Committee, a school committee made of staff, students and community members, will monitor issues of bathroom privacy for all students, as well as procedures to further educate students and families on issues as they arise, the board statement said. The committee will make recommendations to the school board, it said.

The committee is not new, but is taking on these new responsibilities, Kiser said.