Rock Hill School District Adopts New Sex-Based Restroom Policy Amid Ongoing Debate

Rock Hill School District Requires Enforcement of Restroom Rules

ROCK HILL — The Rock Hill School Board recently approved a new restroom policy that aligns with a state rule requiring school districts to enforce sex-based restroom use. This decision, made on June 27, 2024, is part of a law awaiting the governor’s signature.

The policy dictates that students must use restrooms that correspond with their biological sex as indicated at birth. This rule also applies to locker rooms and accommodations for lodging during school trips, meaning students must share rooms with others of their biological sex.

The move follows complaints from parents regarding a situation at Rock Hill High School, where a student identified as biologically male was reported using the girls’ restrooms. U.S. Representative Ralph Norman, who is from Rock Hill, urged the school board to adopt a sex-based policy to ensure the safety and well-being of all students, especially young women.

Senator Wes Climer, who wrote the state budget provision triggering this policy, made it clear that school districts which do not comply could lose state funding. Climer emphasized the importance of ensuring safety for all students, saying “schools have an obligation to protect all students, including the physical safety and emotional wellbeing of young women.”

The school board’s decision was not without dissent; it passed with a vote of 4-2. Members who opposed the measure argued it was unfair to transgender students. However, supporters, like Vice Chairman Pete Nosal, expressed concern for the safety and privacy of female students, stating, “Girls and women deserve to have safe spaces where they are with girls and women.”

The new policy is set within a broader context of Mississippi’s ongoing debate about transgender rights and the use of restrooms. It highlights the tensions around inclusion and safety in schools. Climer plans to work towards making this policy a permanent law during the next legislative session.

The Rock Hill School District now faces new responsibilities as they work to implement this policy in the coming school year. The implications of this law and the reactions from the community may continue to unfold in the months ahead.