The Paso Robles Joint Unified School District board of trustees grappled with students’ concerns and the infrastructure changes required to implement gender-neutral bathrooms at schools during its meeting on January 13, 2026.
The public comment session included students who shared differing views on the subject.
Arguing that transgender students were being used as scapegoats amid broader issues of harassment, Aster Watson, president of the Paso Robles High School Queer Student Union, told the board that transgender students do not pose a threat.
The real danger comes from discrimination and from students who follow and verbally harass LGBTQ+ students, Watson said.
Several female students and their parents expressed discomfort over sharing restrooms and locker rooms with “biological males.” One student said the presence of a “biological male in a female restroom violated her sense of privacy and dignity.”
Echoing their concerns, some parents said that the presence of “biological males” in female spaces creates anxiety and makes girls feel vulnerable.
Acknowledging the concerns, the board explored potential temporary compromises, while emphasizing that their options were constrained by legal boundaries.
Aiming to expand protections for LGBTQ+ students, Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2023 signed a law requiring all K–12 schools to provide gender-neutral bathrooms by July 1, 2026.
Some trustees suggested expanding existing restrooms or identifying gender-neutral bathrooms as a potential inclusive middle ground.
Trustee Kenny Enney suggested renting trailers or pursuing temporary compromises to provide individual spaces until court rulings offer more clarity.
The board also discussed providing single-occupancy, separate spaces.
Referencing state law, Superintendent Jennifer Loftus said school districts are required to provide three types of restrooms: male, female, and gender-neutral. Because the requirement is based on student choice, the district is obligated to respect each student’s decision.
Students are allowed to choose which restroom they use based on their sex at birth, their gender identity, or a gender-neutral option, Loftus said.
Since the law enables students to choose their preferred facility, simply providing trailers or alternative spaces is not a complete legal solution, as students cannot be forced to use a specific facility against their choice, she said.
The cost of creating gender-neutral spaces emerged as a recurring concern. While Trustee Sondra Williams said building such spaces would be expensive, Trustee Jim Cogan raised concerns about using “limited funds,” noting the district has identified $173 million in overall facility needs.
The board agreed to discuss the matter again in February to further explore options that comply with the law before making a final decision.
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