On Tuesday, RedState reported on the recent video expose by Accuracy in Media of a Princeton High School assistant athletic director seemingly guiding a parent of a "transgender child" interested in playing sports at the school on how to bypass Ohio state laws restricting secondary and collegiate level sports to biological sex-based teams, as well as laws requiring same biological sex bathroom use.
Read it Here: OH Asst Athletic Director Caught on Tape Instructing a Parent on How to Skirt State Anti-Transgender Laws
On Thursday, RedState received correspondence from the office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. In the letter addressed to Princeton High School Principal James Stallings, Yost issues a not-so-gentle warning, as well as guidance to the school concerning the state's expectation of educational institutions and adherence to state laws.
Ltr from Ohio AG Dave Yost by Susie Moore
The letter read, in part:
I write to offer a word of caution and guidance relative to Princeton City School District's compliance with recent legislation prohibiting transgender students from participating in female sports and entering women's bathrooms.
In a recent video circulated on social media, your Assistant Athletic Director was recorded providing guidance as to how a parent of a transgender student could circumvent Ohio law prohibiting men from competing in women's sports and changing/showering in the women's locker room. Specifically, Assistant Athletic Director Tamette Duckworth suggested that the transgender student not tell anyone of the previous gender and "discreetly" change in the women's locker room. These actions are expressly prohibited by R.C. §§ 3313.5320(B) and 3319.90 (B)(2).
Yost went on to reference those particular sections mentioned, which outline the responsibility of scholastic sports organizations, as well as the expected conduct for educational bodies.
Circumventing this law not only leads to unfairness in competition, but could also subject the School District to civil liability from other schools and/or the parents of students forced to change in a locker room with a member of the opposite sex. No parent should have to wonder whether their daughter has to change and shower with men.
Therein lies the rub. Northern Virginia schools are already in the crosshairs of the Trump administration over their opposition to Title IX guidance, as my colleague Teri Christoph reported:
We are at the FO part of the FA'ing being done by several public school systems in the Northern Virginia area, who have chosen not to abide by the Trump administration mandate requiring students to use the bathrooms and locker rooms that correspond with their biological sex. As a result, the Department of Education is putting the school systems in question—Alexandria City Public Schools, Arlington Public Schools, Fairfax County Public Schools, Loudoun County Public Schools, and Prince William County Public Schools—into the "high risk" category for future federal funding, meaning they'll only be able to obtain funds through reimbursements.
The United States Supreme Court decision in United States v. Skrmetti affirmed Tennessee's (and other states') rights to not only pass such laws, but to protect minors from those who wish to encroach on these laws and policies. Even the appearance of assistant athletic director Duckworth counseling a parent to skirt Ohio state laws opens up the Princeton City Schools district, as well as the state, to unwanted scrutiny and potential lawsuits. Yost concluded the letter by suggesting the school system "undertake an investigation into its practices," and recommended teachers and staff undergo training on how to comply with Ohio laws regarding transgenders participating in sports and concerning bathroom use.
I suggest the Princeton City Schools Board of Education and Superintendent undertake an investigation into its practices to ensure compliance with Ohio law. Further, the School should immediately provide training to all teachers and staff relative to the law on transgender participation in sports and use of bathroom facilities.
The letter carbon-copied Princeton City Schools Superintendent G. Elgin Card, Princeton Board of Education President Jon Simons, and Princeton City Schools Director of Communications Tricia Roddy. RedState reached out to Roddy for comment, but at the time of publication, had not yet received a reply.
Update:
Following the publication of this article, RedState received a response from Tricia Roddy, Director of Communications for Princeton City Schools, which also includes a statement from Princeton City Schools Superintendent G. Elgin Card. The response is included below in its entirety:
Princeton City Schools Responds to Social Media Video
Princeton City Schools is aware of a video circulating on social media. The safety and well-being of our students remain our top priorities.
Our district policies comply with state and federal laws, as well as Ohio High School Athletic Association rules and regulations. We have reviewed the video clips released by Accuracy in Media (AIM) and are investigating the full context. The video, which involves an AIM representative posing as a new family to our district, appears to have been edited in a way that misrepresents a months-old conversation.
It is troubling that outside groups are using deceptive tactics to entrap staff and generate negative publicity. Princeton City Schools follows the law, and we are committed to providing additional training to staff regarding student participation in athletics and facility use, in accordance with Ohio state law.
We are consulting with legal counsel regarding AIM’s tactics and will take appropriate measures based on our findings. If community members have evidence or concerns, we encourage them to share that with our superintendent.
Princeton stands for both compliance with the law and for justice. We urge our community not to be misled by portrayals designed to divide and distract.
For questions, please contact Superintendent Card or district leadership at 513.864.1093.
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Dear Princeton Families,
We are aware of a video currently circulating on social media, and I want you to hear the facts about this directly from me. The well-being and safety of our students are top priorities of Princeton City Schools. The Princeton City School District policies and procedures adhere to state and federal laws.
Along with being compliant with laws, Princeton City Schools follows the Ohio High School Athletic Association's rules and regulations. If anyone has evidence to the contrary, I encourage them to share that with me or the Board of Education. We will review and are committed to providing additional training to staff regarding student participation in athletics and facility use, in accordance with Ohio state law.
We have seen the video clips that Accuracy in Media (AIM) has chosen to release and are investigating to understand the full context. We will follow appropriate measures based on the findings. Based on what we currently know, AIM is promoting a conversation that took place months ago, which included a discussion about high school and club sports with a staff member. The video features an AIM representative pretending they are a new family moving to the area with a transgender student who wishes to participate in sports and use the locker room.
Our Princeton administration recognizes that the video shows people from outside of our community targeting our district in a deceptive tactic to secretly film a staff member. They filmed with the intention of using words out of context and using a topic to draw out controversial views. AIM edits out context to make their videos sensationalized. These videos are used to help get online viewership, sponsorship, and negative publicity for public schools.
We have seen this same organization do this in multiple districts across the country and in neighboring communities. It is troubling that people pretending to be something they are not are intentionally trying to entrap school staff members. We are working with our legal counsel about our options.
This is Princeton. We follow the law, but our community also stands up for justice and against outsiders trying to come in and disrupt our village. We are disappointed by AIM's deceptive tactics and efforts to promote false accounts to the organization’s benefit.
If you have questions about this situation, do not hesitate to reach out to me.
Sincerely,
G. Elgin Card
Superintendent
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