Below are some of the most frequently asked questions I am hearing as I engage with our community.

What about bathrooms? I’ve heard these are becoming unsafe at school.

Bathrooms are a frequent concern. Unfortunately, it’s true that bathrooms are among the riskier places in school, primarily due to substance use concerns, and bullying that takes place. Dr Ryan White’s number one issue is school safety, and bathrooms are at the top of that list. There are common sense solutions to ensure that bathrooms are safe for everyone, such as single-user stalls. Think more in line with how your home bathroom is designed and used instead of a communal room with half-walls separating multiple stalls.

What do you think about transgender athletes?

This issue is so nuanced that there is no one size fits all answer. In the unlikely event that this becomes an issue in our school district, Dr Ryan White is committed to working with the athlete’s family, the team, and athletic governing bodies to find a solution that protects the safety of all the students while maintaining athletic integrity and protecting women’s sports.

What are your views on DEI in schools?

Plain and simple, every student should feel welcome and included at public school. Welcoming environments improve student mental health and wellbeing which in turn improves academic success and raises test scores.

Furthermore, when we are discussing “DEI” in schools, this is most commonly helping students with learning disability or physical disabilities obtain accommodations that allow them to attend school through 504 and IEP plans.