The Fremont-Mills Community School District board in Tabor, Iowa, voted on August 19 against confirming Ace Rios as its new band teacher after community members mounted opposition to his hiring because he is transgender, erininthemorning.com reported.
Rios, a recent University of Nebraska music education graduate, had already been offered the position, received building access, been assigned a classroom, and decorated its walls in preparation for teaching middle and high school band students, according to erininthemorning.com.
The district serves just over 400 students across both schools. Roughly two dozen people attended the board meeting, an unusually large turnout for the district, the publication reported. Speakers opposed to Rios cited biblical values, restroom concerns, and threats to withdraw their children.
Board members Jen Wyant and Mary Beth Korver voted to approve the hire. Wyant told attendees that administrators had evaluated candidates and recommended Rios based on his academic performance, student teaching recommendations, and interview, erininthemorning.com reported. Board members Eli Forney, Wes Hill, and Shannon Smith voted against confirmation, leaving the district without a band teacher as classes began.
Rios told a reporter he is consulting legal counsel about a discrimination lawsuit, erininthemorning.com reported. Some parents expressed outrage over the vote, with one father telling the board that Rios might have been the person to inspire his daughter musically.
For more information, visit erininthemorning.com.