A rural school board in Denton, Texas has agreed to launch an investigation into the temporary removal of a transgender student from his role in the high school musical. This decision has thrust the small town into the national debate surrounding LGBTQ+ rights. Additionally, the school board has stripped the superintendent of his duties overseeing the fine arts department, pending the outcome of the investigation.
The controversy began when Max Hightower, a senior at Sherman High School, was informed earlier this month that he would lose his role and solo in the musical. However, the school board subsequently reversed this decision and instructed the school leadership to reinstate Max and other students in their original roles in the production of “Oklahoma!”.
Interestingly, the board’s decision appears to go against the prevailing political climate in Texas. In recent years, Republicans and conservative policymakers have actively sought to curtail transgender rights. In nearby suburban Dallas schools, there have been book bans and policies requiring teachers to use students’ birth certificate names and corresponding gender pronouns. Moreover, this year, the legislature prohibited gender-affirming treatment for minors, even with parental consent.
Despite these political realities, the school board’s actions align with what Max Hightower, aged 17, and his parents have long believed about their rural town. Prior to the musical controversy, Max stated that he generally felt accepted in the community.
The decision to recast Max and other students generated immediate public backlash. Numerous news articles and various organizations across the nation condemned the move. During the school board meeting on Friday, dozens of Sherman residents expressed their opinions both in favor of and against Sherman ISD Superintendent Tyson Bennett. One commenter had to be escorted out by security after refusing to yield their speaking time.
Community pastors and former school employees rallied in support of Bennett, arguing that the board’s decision to reinstate Max was sufficient. Bob Jones, a former Sherman ISD employee, stated during the meeting, “Get your pound of flesh somewhere else.”
Critics of Bennett called for his dismissal or, at the very least, a reprimand. They deemed the decision illegal and cited Title IX, the federal civil rights law that prohibits gender-based discrimination. Some individuals also called for investigations into how the superintendent has handled this and other situations in the past, alleging a “pattern” of problematic behavior.
The board unanimously approved the hiring of an investigator and removed Bennett from overseeing the fine arts programs. In the interim, Amy Pesina, Sherman ISD’s chief academic officer, will assume responsibility for the fine arts programs.
Bennett, who has served as Sherman’s superintendent since May 2022, has faced criticism from parents since the beginning of his tenure. One controversial initiative he introduced was the “Stand in the Gap” program, which aimed to encourage local churches to become more involved with the district. Additionally, Bennett invited pastors to lead prayers during one of the district’s convocations, a move that several parents deemed “inappropriate”.
For Phillip Hightower, Max’s father, the board’s decision on Friday represents a small victory. However, he still considers Bennett to be a threat to LGBTQ+ students in the district. Phillip expressed concerns about the well-being of all the other students affected by Bennett’s decisions.
