The Rapides Parish School Board has joined numerous educational governing bodies, Gov. Jeff Landry and others mounting legal challenges in federal court to new Title IX regulations designed to protect rights of transgender students.

The regulations erase restrictions on which bathrooms transgenders can use, and how they are allowed to compete in athletics, among other issues. Lawsuits have been filed in Louisiana as well as in federal courts in Texas, Alabama and Kentucky challenging the new rules. Leaders in Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma have told their school systems not to follow the new guidelines.

Many school boards around Louisiana have passed similar resolutions and joined the legal filings this week.

The Rapides School Board released the following statement:

“As many of you have become aware, new Title IX regulations have been adopted by the federal government. These regulations have the potential to have far-reaching impacts in our schools.

“Having been made aware of the proposed changes last fall, our Board directed the superintendent and legal counsel to begin the process of pre-empting the enforcement of these regulations in Rapides Parish Public Schools by filing litigation in the federal court system.

“Our Rapides Parish School Board voted unanimously to support our Board Counsel, Mike Johnson, in this endeavor.

“For the last several months Mr. Johnson and Superintendent Powell have been working with attorneys from the Alliance Defending Freedom organization and are prepared to submit our declaration at the very first legally proper moment, Monday, April 29. We are also coordinating with the State Attorney General’s Office in these efforts.”