A letter sent out recently by a religious organization addresses an issue that some feel might already have been addressed politically and by school officials.

At the Nov. 14 Newton Community School District Board of Education meeting, NCSD Superintendent Bob Callaghan read a form letter from The Family Leader, a religious organization that takes a stance on many social and political issues, which takes exception to President Obama’s directives regarding gender and use of facilities such as restrooms and locker rooms.

The letter encourages school board members to “refuse to follow” the Obama administration’s May 13 “Dear Colleague” letter, which directs public schools to implement mixed-gender bathrooms, locker rooms, showers, and (when traveling) hotel rooms.

Callaghan said he was reading the letter at a board meeting so that the board and the public would be informed there is an organization directly voicing an opinion on a particular issue. He also said while he can’t go into specifics about how each transgender student’s needs are met, he is pleased with how Newton High School Principal and Berg Middle School Principal Lisa Sharp have addressed these sensitive topics with students.

The Family Leader’s letter was accompanied by signed petition sheets from the corresponding local area, supporting the organization’s opposition to the directive. The copy of the letter sent to Newton schools was attached to petitions from Newton-area residents Dean Lauterbach, Ruth Rusk and Vickie Jackson.

Rusk and Jackson couldn’t be reached for comment. Lauterbach said he signed the petition because he doesn’t want to see the federal government getting involved with local schools to that degree — especially if federal funding is withheld as a consequence for non-compliance.

“I’m supportive of our local administrators handling issues like this here, and not in Washington, D.C.,” Lauterbach said.

Lauterbach added he isn’t sure what relevance the directive will have now that Republican leadership is taking over at both the national and state level.

Peters said in May that transgender student issues are an evolving component of education, with administrators, teachers, students and other districts communicating regularly. He said each student’s needs are met on a case-by-case basis.

“Nothing new has come from the state since May,” Peters said. “I assume they (the state Legislature) may tackle this issue at the next session this winter.”

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com