Jon Stinchcomb

Reporter

PORT CLINTON - When one fifth-grade student returns to Bataan Memorial Elementary School after winter break, they will be presenting as a different gender than they did at the start of the school year, and school officials are taking steps to ensure the transition is as comfortable for the student as possible.

On Thursday, the last day of school before the break, fifth-graders from that class were sent home with a letter for parents informing them of the situation.

“Please know that it is very important to me that our staff and students are supportive and considerate of one another and that they take the time to understand the implications of their words and actions,” Principal Geoff Halsey wrote.

“Our school and district are committed to providing a safe, positive, productive and nurturing educational environment for all of our students,” he continued.

Pat Adkins, superintendent of Port Clinton City Schools, said Friday this is the first time the district has handled such a situation at the elementary school level, but anytime there is a topic of discussion in class that may be perceived as even somewhat controversial, they try to work with parents.

“You can imagine that might be a surprise to some people after Christmas break, so we just want to make sure this student is treated the same way as every other child,” he said.

Adkins said part of the reason the situation has been handled this way, with a letter to parents and a talk to the class, is because it is halfway through the school year.

“We wanted to make sure (parents) knew so if they had any issues or concerns they could address it with the principal prior to (returning from winter break),” he said.

For teachers and staff, they are less worried about reactions from the students themselves, who they say are generally very understanding and supportive of one another, according to Adkins.

“For us, the concern doesn’t so much lie within the walls of our schools,” he said. “It’s more about what happens outside.”

Adkins said teachers and staff are prepared for it. The district had an expert meet with elementary administrators, teachers and staff on how best to handle these situations as a school.

“Our teachers and students today are accepting and understanding,” he said. “It’s not about whether they agree with it, but understand that our responsibility is to educate kids.”

The brief talk with the student’s class will be short and simple, according to Adkins, stressing that this is the same student that was here before Christmas, who deserves to be treated the same, to be accepted and supported. The school is not releasing the student's name or gender information.

Grant Stancliff, a spokesperson for Equality Ohio, said studies have shown the mental health outcome for transgender individuals improves dramatically when they have a supportive environment.

“It’s not easy,” Stancliff said. “It’s not easy for parents, it’s not easy for schools.”

Stancliff said the suicide rate among transgender people compared to the general public is “through the roof,” and when parents work with their doctors and schools, it can save lives.

“It truly isn’t about religion," Adkins said. "It’s not about politics. It’s not about sexuality. It’s about a student in our school that has the right to be educated the same way everybody else does."

One of the most controversial issues in student gender identity cases is which bathroom they can use, but that is not an issue at Bataan Memorial. Other than just one set of group restrooms, all of the other student bathrooms are gender neutral, more akin to a bathroom at home. Port Clinton Middle School is the same way.

Adkins said one of the most important things when dealing with this kind of thing is maintaining effective communication with the family, and he said restrooms are the least of their concerns.

“At the end of the day, this student is one of ours, a Redskin (the school mascot), and deserves to be treated that way,” he said. “We would hope everybody feels that way, but within the walls of our schools, we’re going to make sure that happens to the best of our ability.”

jstinchcom@gannett.com

419-680-4897

Twitter: @JonDBN