LINCOLN- Just as the Nebraska Legislature is set to take up a proposal next year relating to transgender student-athletes, several local school boards in the state are moving ahead. Recently, Kearney Public Schools and Norfolk Public Schools passed more restrictive policies relating to transgender athletes than the standards outlined by the Nebraska State Activities Association. Each of the district's policies will require students in grades 6-12 to participate in sports according to their sex at birth.

Kearney Superintendent Jason Mundork said policy conversations surrounding this issue began last fall after several transgender students within the district expressed interest in competing. "If we didn't, I felt like this poor kid and the family was going to become a talking point," said Mundorf, "And that's pretty unfair to the kid." Norfolk Superintendent Jami Jo Thompson said in a statement following the enactment of the policy that she does not anticipate any students being turned away, and that, if any are, the district would work to help them find a new activity.

Sen. Kathleen Kauth has made clear that LB575 will be a priority for her in the upcoming 2024 Legislative session. The bill would define K-12 bathrooms, locker rooms, and sports teams as male or female, according to students' sex at birth. Last month, Kauth said she was pleased with the action taken by Kearney and Norfolk. "We want to make sure that we give them [Kearney and Norfolk] the support from the state so that they have the infrastructure that they need," Kauth said, indicating that she will push hard for the passage of LB575.

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