La Center School District Board of Directors and Superintendent Peter Rosenkranz provide letter to parents and families

The La Center School District has found itself at the center of a larger statewide and national conversation — one filled with intense debate about gender identity, parental rights, and the role of public schools. While these issues continue to draw media attention and public commentary, we want to speak directly to our local community about what we stand for and what we believe.

Our position is simple: we treat every student with respect and we partner with parents to support their children. We follow the law — federal and state alike — while working to honor the values of our community. 

In 2023, the La Center School Board updated its policies in accordance with RCW 28A.642.080, which states: “(1)(a) By January 31, 2020, each school district must adopt or amend if necessary policies and procedures that, at a minimum, incorporate all the elements of the model transgender student policy and procedure…” The law explicitly grants districts the ability to amend the policy, reflecting Washington’s longstanding commitment to local control in public education. 

We took that responsibility seriously. Our policy amendments strengthened the original model in a way we believe is both lawful and more inclusive — by centering the role of parents in their child’s education and well-being. We believe families are the cornerstone of a healthy community and the first teachers of their children. Our policy asks staff to attempt to consult with students about family involvement and consider safety concerns. Barring any credible safety risk, parents are included in important decisions about their children—just as they are in every other aspect of school life. 

Let us also be clear: La Center has never denied a student’s request to use a preferred name or pronoun. In accordance with Washington law and guidance, we have honored those requests. What we have asked our staff not to do is initiate public pronoun collection in class, especially in front of peers, as this conversation belongs with families. 

Despite our efforts to strike a respectful and legally sound balance, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has accused us of discrimination and threatened to withhold critical education funding. We strongly reject this characterization. Our policy treats all students equally. We believe it is entirely possible to support transgender students while also ensuring parents remain informed partners—unless there is a compelling reason not to involve them. It is not radical to say that parents should be part of their child’s journey. It is responsible. It is what our community expects. 

Even more concerning is OSPI’s push to discourage schools from documenting gender identity discussions — potentially evading the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which protects parents’ rights to access educational records. The suggestion that families should be kept in the dark about deeply personal matters, while being called for everything from field trip permission to minor illnesses, undermines trust and common sense.

Our Board and Superintendent did not seek out this conflict. We are parents, neighbors, small business owners, farmers, and volunteers. Every one of us has children in La Center schools. We are united not by ideology, but by a commitment to what’s best for kids — and by a shared belief that local schools should reflect the values of the local families they serve. 

We are cooperating with the U.S. Department of Education to find constructive solutions. Sadly, our efforts to collaborate with OSPI have been met with ultimatums, not dialogue. That’s not how effective leaders collaborate. Intimidation and politics have no place in educational leadership. 

In La Center, we believe schools exist to teach students how to think—not what to think. Our job is to provide academic excellence, foster critical thinking, and prepare young people for the world beyond graduation. We are seeing positive impacts on student learning within our assessments. The role of shaping identity and personal beliefs rightly belongs with families. At its core, this conversation is about the beliefs of the roles and boundaries in public education.

We deeply value our district — its students, our dedicated teachers and staff, families, and the community who support them. We’re continually inspired by the strength of our schools and the commitment of those who make them thrive. Most of all, we are thankful to be part of a community that cares so deeply for its children. 

We remain committed to leading with integrity, honoring the law, and keeping families at the center of our work — remaining focused on our mission to educate and empower every student. 

Signed, 

La Center School Board of Directors: Craig Whited, Eric Lindberg, Dorri Oldham, Amanda Miller, Sam Glackler 

Peter Rosenkranz, superintendent

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