A larger-than-normal turnout for public comment is expected tonight at the Duval County School Board meeting.
Groups on both sides of the school system’s policy toward transgender students are expected to speak in the wake of Sunday’s mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando.
There is no agenda item about a policy change for transgender bathroom use.
Jacksonville LGBT community leaders are calling on allies to attend the meeting. Jacksonville Coalition for Equality lawyer Jimmy Midyette said LGBT students plan to address the board.
“I’m a little concerned that so many young people will be at the school board meeting tonight to advocate for their rights in the wake of this tragedy with the potential interaction of hate groups. It could be a long night,” he said.
In an interview with Melissa Ross on First Coast Connect last month Vitti said Duval County public schools have allowed students to use restrooms matching their gender identities since 2008.
“Over the past several years, we’ve had transgender students come forward — usually at the school level — and that issue bubbles up to the district level so that we can problem solve to make sure that we can accommodate students,” Vitti said.
Concerns of the policy started bubbling up after the Departments of Justice and Education sent a letter to every public school district in the country, instructing them transgender and non-transgender students "can all enjoy a safe and discrimination-free environment," the Obama administration said.
The letter advises public schools how the Department of Education Title IX nondiscrimination policy is to be interpreted. Since schools receiving federal dollars aren’t allowed to discriminate based on a student’s sex, they can’t discriminate against a student based on gender identity.
Alawsuit challenging that policy in Duval was filed last month by a mother of four students. She claims that policy puts her children in harm’s way.
School Board member Jason Fischer, who is running for a state House seat, has called for the board to adopt a “common sense” policy requiring students to use the restrooms and locker rooms of their biological sex.
At a school board workshop last month, about a dozen people came to speak about Duval’s policy. Most were against students using the restroom of their identified gender.
Tonight’s school board meeting starts at 6 p.m. at the administration building on Prudential Drive.
Duval Schools Spokeswoman said there will be the usual security checkpoint at the building’s entrance and police officers on duty in the building.
