On Monday night, the Kern High School District Board voted 3-2 to approve a resolution supporting Title IX and opposing transgender student athletes competing on teams that match their gender identity.

Trustees Derek Tisinger, Kathy Scrivner, and J. Bryan Batey voted in favor, while David Manriquez and Steven Rodrigue opposed it.

The resolution follows action by the Kern County Board of Education in August, and after an incident last month in which Bakersfield Christian High School forfeited a frosh/soph girls volleyball match against Ridgeview High School after discovering that a player on the opposing team was a transgender student.

Tisinger, who brought the resolution forward, said the goal was to encourage state and federal officials to uphold what he described as the “original intent of Title IX” and protect girls’ sports. He added that he took the same resolution passed by the Kern Board of Education and replaced their name with Kern High School District. 

“This resolution says as a board we would like to see our government move in that direction,” he said.

Trustees said the resolution is nonbinding and does not change any district policy. Legal counsel confirmed it has no legal effect and will not affect student sports participation or school funding.

Manriquez said the board should avoid taking actions that might “put a target on ourselves for the federal government to come take a look at what we are doing here and how we are doing it,” and that the board’s focus should remain on students. 

“We are here to look at the best interest of our district and the best interest of our students. I’m not here to make a political statement one way or the other,” he said.

Trustee Steven Rodrigue agreed and said he did not want to risk district resources. 

“We need to seek resolution from the state and federal government. It’s unfortunate that they can’t provide that for us. I have no interest in risking taking money out of the children’s pocket to further involve ourselves in a political argument,” he said. 

Student board representative Samreen Sandhu asked how a funding cut might affect students.

“As a student, I want to know how that lack of funding would affect my education,” she said.

Officials clarified that the resolution would not cause any loss of funding.

Manriquez thanked Sandhu for speaking up and said it was important for students to understand the impact of board decisions. 

“We as adults are making decisions for you,” he told her. “You’re fortunate to sit here and listen to this, take what you’ve heard back to your schools and help others understand how these issues affect students.”

During public comments, several community members spoke both for and against the resolution.

Catalina Maldonado said the resolution sends a harmful message to transgender students. “You’re targeting kids who are already vulnerable,” she said. “This does not promote safety or inclusion.”

Blake Green, another speaker who opposed the resolution, said the board should focus on academics instead of divisive issues. “You are wasting time on something that doesn’t improve education for any student,” he said.

Others supported the board’s decision. Dennis McClean said the resolution was needed to “protect fairness in girls’ sports.”

Angelo Frasier, another supporter, said, “This is about keeping sports fair for our daughters. We need to stand up for what’s right.”

Kern Sol News spoke with Jesse Aguilar, a teacher in the Kern High School District and a member of the California Teachers Association board of directors. 

Aguilar said the resolution is more about politics than helping students. 

“In my opinion, this resolution is a political document,” he said. “It doesn’t do anything to help students in the Kern High School District. It’s just to make a political point.”

He said the board cannot enforce the resolution because the district must follow state law. 

“There’s really nothing they can do to enforce it,” Aguilar said. “This is just a political statement. It doesn’t change policy or law.”

California’s Education Code Section 221.5, also known as the School Success and Opportunity Act, requires public schools to allow students to participate in sports and activities consistent with their gender identity, regardless of the gender listed on school records.

Aguilar also added that the district should focus on supporting all students. 

“The board should be looking out for every student and staff member,” he said. “They shouldn’t create a situation where some students are treated better than others.”

During the board meeting, the trustees also approved sending a letter to the California Department of Education and federal officials seeking clarity on how schools should handle transgender student participation in sports.