A Pennsylvania school board recently made the decision to renew the contract of a male tennis coach who identifies as transgender, despite allegations against the coach claiming he behaved inappropriately in the girls’ locker room.
The Gettysburg Area School District school board, in a 6-2 vote, chose to continue with tennis coach Sasha Yates for the upcoming fall season, following weeks of intense debate and controversy.
Yates has held the position of tennis coach for both the girls’ and boys’ teams since 2018. Yates disclosed that his transition from male to female began in 2021. Jeremy Lusk, the principal of Gettysburg High School, handed Yates a letter a year ago, detailing several “concerns” about the coach’s behavior.
“It is imperative to maintain professional boundaries,” the letter from Lusk stated.
The letter further alleged that Yates had changed near students in the girls’ locker room and had conversations about undergarment preferences and menstruation with students. Yates, in response, stated that he had only taken off his top in a secluded corner of the locker room and did not remember posing such questions to the students.
The school board had also been informed of complaints regarding Yates’ use of a women’s restroom and his passage through the girls’ locker room en route to a meeting. Following these incidents, the district reportedly directed coaches to utilize single-occupancy changing rooms.
The recent school board meeting, which addressed this issue, saw an attendance of approximately 200 individuals. The community appeared divided, with some supporting Yates and others voicing their concerns.
“I do not want a man dressed as a woman coming into my daughters’ or granddaughters’ locker room or bathroom and traumatizing them,” an unnamed resident said.
Kenneth Hassinger, the school board president, clarified that the primary concern was not Yates’ transgender identity. Instead, the focus was on the issues related to bathroom usage.
“It was simply the issues that were outlined with the bathroom usage,” Hassinger said.
Post the decision to renew Yates’ contract, Hassinger dismissed the circulating “rumors” about Yates, asserting that they lacked a factual foundation.
“Overall I think it came down to widespread rumors that were going on in the public and we wanted to take a deep breath and make sure we had all the information before we took a vote,” Hassinger commented.
Previously, the board had reached a stalemate regarding Yates’ position, resulting in the girls’ tennis team commencing their season without a coach. Expressing his gratitude for the renewed opportunity, Yates conveyed his eagerness to continue coaching.
“I am very much looking forward to continuing to support and guide both teams as they represent Gettysburg Area High School in the coming seasons,” Yates said.
Michelle Smyers, a school board member who voted against renewing Yates’ contract, had previously cautioned the district. Represented by America First Legal, she asserted her right to access all “reprimands” issued to Yates, a request she claims the district denied.
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