Inserting himself into a school district issue, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) called Monday for the removal of the superintendent of the Forth Worth school district over his new policy making accommodations for transgender students.
Superintendent Kent Scribner proposed the new policy in April to allow transgender students to use the bathroom and play on the sports team that corresponds to their gender identity, according to the Star-Telegram. The policy also calls on teachers to address transgender students by the pronoun that aligns with their gender identity.
Patrick issued a statement Monday calling for Scribner to be fired and for his new policy to be reversed, according to the Dallas Morning News.
“Without any discussion with parents, board members, principals, and other community leaders, Dr. Scribner’s unilateral action, underscores this lack of fitness to hold his position as superintendent. Campus safety should be of paramount concern for anyone in his position. Every parent, especially those of young girls, should be outraged,” Patrick said in the statement. “I call upon the parents within the Fort Worth ISD to take immediate steps to repeal this stealthy scheme and remove Dr. Scribner from his post.”
Patrick said that Scribner “placed his own personal political agenda ahead of the more than 86,000 students” in the school district with the new policy.
Jacinto Ramos, Jr., the president of the Forth Worth school board, defended Scribner to the Dallas Morning News.
“We have enormous confidence in Superintendent Kent P. Scribner, his team, and our Board,” he said. “We are focused on creating a strong, safe, and productive learning environment for all students.”
