A law group is 'demanding actions and answers' from a Wisconsin high school after a transgender student allegedly 'exposed their male genitalia' to four freshmen girls in the locker room showers after a swim class.
The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) claimed Sun Prairie Area School District provided an 'inadequate response' to the alleged incident in March.
It said Sun Prairie East High School administrators 'failed to comply with basic protections afforded by federal law' following a 'violation of girls’ locker room privacy'.
'The girls were caught off guard and shocked, closed their eyes, and tried to hurry up and leave the showers as quickly as possible,' the complaint said.
It is the latest row to break out over the use of high school bathrooms and locker rooms by transgender students, following incidents in Florida, Iowa, and Ontario, Canada.
In a letter sent to parents on Friday, seen by DailyMail.com, the high school said 'the District had previously addressed this incident when it was brought to our attention'.
The law group claims Sun Prairie East High School administrators 'failed to comply with basic protections afforded by federal law'
The complaint claims that on March 3, 'four freshman girls participated in a swim unit as part of their first-hour physical-education class. After the lesson, the girls entered the women's ’ athletic locker room to shower and change for class.'
As they began to shower in their swimsuits, an 18-year-old student, who 'identifies as transgender' entered the shower and said 'I'm trans, by the way'.
The student then allegedly undressed and 'exposed male genitalia to the four girls in the shower.'
Speaking to Wisconsin Right Now, Deputy Counsel Dan Lennington said that the girls were 14 years old.
'These are 14 year old girls, this is an 18 year old male. We have multiple sources saying this male is 18. The school district has not denied he was 18 when this happened'.
The law group claims that following reports to administration and communications from parents, school district administrators 'failed to comply with basic protections afforded by federal law'.
It wrote: 'Under federal law, the incident should have been reported to the Title IX coordinator, who should have then contacted the girls, offered supportive measures, and provided them an opportunity to file a complaint.'
Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or any other education program.
According to the complaint, the school principal Renee Colman apologized via email on April 10 to a parent 'for the incident that occurred' and reiterated that the situation the girls experienced 'should not have happened'.
It claims Colman wrote that 'we will continue to work to ensure no one has a similar experience'.
According to the complaint, the school principal Renee Colman apologized via email on April 10 to a parent 'for the incident that occurred'
Deputy Counsel Dan Lennington, of The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, said school district officials provided an 'inadequate response' to the alleged incident
It also alleges the principal emailed one parent a copy of a 'Restroom and Locker Room Accessibility Guidance'.
This guidance states: 'A student who is transgender, nonbinary, or gender expansive will be permitted to access the men's/women's segregated restrooms in accordance with the student’s gender identity that the student regularly asserts at school and in other social environments.'
It adds: 'If a transgender student makes any request regarding the use of locker rooms or any similar type of changing area, the request shall be assessed on a case-by-case basis with the goals of: (a) facilitating the transgender student's access to the District's physical education curriculum and other relevant programs; (b) ensuring adequate student privacy and safety; and (c) minimizing stigmatization of the transgender student.'
The alleged incident is the latest in a string of rows over the use of locker rooms by transgender students across various states.
In October last year, a Vermont school was forced to investigate after members of a girls volleyball team alleged they had been banned from using their own locker room and had to change in a single bathroom stall after they complained about a transgender teammate.
Some members claimed that the transgender player at Randolph Union High School made an 'inappropriate remark' while they were changing in the locker room.
'Steps have been taken to ensure that it does not recur,' the school said of the incident
A letter sent to families at Sun Prairie East High School, which has been seen by DailyMail.com, said: 'We want you to know that we are aware of a Fox News article that was released today, elevating an incident that occurred at Sun Prairie East High School in early March.
'Due to laws protecting student privacy, we cannot comment on the details of the incident that is the subject of the article. However, we can share that the article provides neither an accurate nor complete account of the events that occurred.
'We also want you to know that the District had previously addressed this incident when it was brought to our attention. Steps have been taken to ensure that it does not recur.
'If your student needs any support at school, please contact a Student Services member.
'Please reach out if you have questions or concerns. Our District will continue to comply with all applicable laws and meet the needs of all District students.'
The letter is signed from Brad Saron, Superintendent, Stephanie Leonard-Witte, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching, Learning, and Equity and Janet Rosseter, Assistant Superintendent for Operations.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pa3IpbCmmZmhe6S7ja6iaKaVrMBwrdGtoJyklWJ%2Bc3yPaW1qbV%2BMtrSvzqeqoqZdnbaotIysmqGnn6F6p7XRnmStqpGjwG7DzqaYp2VhbXqmxM%2Boqp6cXZyyr7XTmqOimV2bv6a%2Fx6acp2WXnr%2Btv4ysn6ivlad7qcDMpQ%3D%3D