SELINSGROVE -- The Selinsgrove Area School District has fired its solicitor for what it termed providing "ill advice" regarding how it deals with transgender students.

The board Monday night by an 8-1 vote terminated Beard Legal Group of Altoona during a meeting at which community members again debated the district's practice that permits transgender students to use the bathroom of their choice.

Superintendent Chad Cohrs implemented the practice at the beginning of the school year, but parents were not notified by letter until October.

Cohrs explained he had not informed parents earlier on the advice of Carl P. Beard, a principal of the law firm.

Beard's advice, along with his implication the district could lose millions of dollars a year if it did not adhere to U.S. Department of Education guidelines for transgender students, were among the reasons for termination, board President Larry D. Augustine said.

Reached Tuesday, Beard said he was disappointed at the board's decision. He never told the board or Cohrs the district could lose federal funds if the transgender issue went to litigation, he said.

Beard, who served as legal counsel for the Pennsylvania School Board Association from 1987 to 1991, said he has corresponded with Cohrs at least 20 times since July on the transgender issue.

He claimed his advice was consistent with the position of the state school board association. He questions how much of his correspondence was shared with board members, but Augustine said he believes most was.

The law firm has issued client alerts on the transgender issue to more than 80 school districts across the state and there was never an issue, Beard said.

The school board consented to the practice in June but has not adopted it as a policy.

There has been no issue within the district with transgender students, according to Cohrs, but the issue has sparked reaction among the community and beyond.

Liberty Counsel, an international non-profit litigation, education and policy organization that says it is dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life and family, has asked the district to stop the practice.

Liberty Counsel pointed out a federal judge in Texas in October issued a nationwide injunction preventing action against school districts that fail to follow federal guidelines that indicate Title IX protects the rights of transgender students.

Liberty Counsel calls incorporating "gender identity" into district policy would be ill advised and claims it would "open a host of issues, not the least of which are violations of privacy, safety and conscience rights of students and staff.

Some of those issues were raised by community members when they addressed the board Monday.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania has gone on record supporting the transgender practice and expressed hope it would become the model for other school districts in Pennsylvania.

It believes the Selinsgrove practice is consistent with guidance issued by the Education and Justice departments.

Objections by parents or students to sharing a restroom or locker room with a transgender student could be resolved by providing a private facility, the ALCU says.

Failure to treat students consistent with their gender identity could lead to litigation against the district, it says.

The school board has no plans at this time to make the transgender practice a policy, Cohrs said. The board is not scheduled to meet again until January.