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Shorewood School District was singled out in President Barack Obama’s new directive on transgender students and American schools.The guidelines, issued Friday, suggest that schools allow transgender students to use the bathrooms that coincide with their gender identification and protect students from discrimination or face losing federal funding.VIDEO: Shorewood School District recognized in new transgender guidelinesCaleb Weinhardt, 16, is a transgender student who said the issue of which bathroom to use isn’t a concern at Shorewood High School, where guidelines similar those from the new federal ones have been in order for about three years.“I’m allowed to use the bathroom that I prefer to use, and it’s really nice that the school is really supportive of that,” Weinhardt said.Principal Tim Kenney said he’s pleased that the Obama administration recognized what is known at the high school as the Shorewood Guidelines in its directive to schools about equity for transgender students. The guidelines go beyond bathroom use to address dress codes and harassment policies.“They refer to it as the bathroom issue,” Kenney said. “For us, it’s not an issue.”To Kenney, the district’s mention in the guidelines is an honor.“I’m very, very proud of our school district for being out in front of this,” he said.State Rep. Jesse Kremer (R-Kewaskum) recently sponsored a bill that would ban transgender individuals from using certain bathrooms. It’s legislation similar to a controversial North Carolina law that led to economic boycotts.He thinks that now, the federal government has gone too far.“I think more states need to do what North Carolina did and stand up to the federal government, stand up to the bullying and do our job,” Kremer said.The lawmaker’s proposal would have allowed for transgender people to use unisex bathrooms with full partitions. However, it died in the legislature. He hopes to reintroduce it next year, he said.But Weinhardt believes the directive from Washington sends a powerful, positive message.“It’s really great to know that there are people that are supportive and that are working really hard to make the environment for trans people a lot more safe and inclusive,” Weinhardt said.Get the WISN 12 NEWS app