Lake County Gazette

A Deerfield District 109 School Board meeting this month drew a crowd of nearly 400 people amid escalating controversy over a report that middle school girls were forced to undress in front of a biological male student in their school locker room.

The meeting, held April 10 at Charles J. Caruso Middle School, featured emotional testimony from parents, impassioned speeches from activists and calls for transparency and accountability from school officials. 

One of the most vocal critics was retired realtor and parent Mark Weyermuller, who spoke out during the public comment period.

Mark Weyermuller takes a selfie at the meeting. | Mark Weyermuller

“I'm also a taxpayer,” Weyermuller said. “So I have skin in the game here, especially being a parent I appreciate the First Amendment here. This is great having all these people here speaking and I'm taking it in, and my views change as they go on. But you might not like some of the things I have to say. A lot of people feel that there's two genders, males and females—two genders, males and females—and you hear a lot about this, and this is taught in basic biology.” 

The outcry stems from claims made by parent Nicole Georgas, whose story has dominated recent board meetings. 

In an earlier meeting, Gerogas told the Board that her daughter and other girls at Shepard Middle School felt violated when they encountered a biological male student in the girls' locker room while changing for gym class.

Rather than addressing their concerns, three administrators—Assistant Superintendent Joanna Ford, Assistant Principal Cathy Van Treese and Director of Student Services Ginger Logemann—reprimanded the girls and tried to coerce them into changing in front of the male student. 

According to Georgas, the administrators entered the locker room throughout the week to enforce this policy. She also said Principal Rob Wegley told her daughter that any male student who claims to identify as female can use the girls’ bathrooms and locker rooms, citing guidance from district legal counsel.

“There's so many people in the room, and I appreciate the passion for this,” Weyermuller said. “I don't want biological males changing in a girls locker room.”

Georgas has since filed a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice, and the case has received national media coverage, including from Fox News, The Daily Wire, and The Washington Times.

State Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) invited Georgas to the state Capitol in late March to discuss the issue of boys using girls' accommodations.

“Nicole Georgas, joined us at the State Capitol to call out her own state rep for saying her daughter is a liar after claiming that school administrators attempted to force her 13-year-old daughter to change in front of a biological male student in the girl's locker room last month,” Niemerg said on Facebook. 

Weyermuller compared the situation to standard school accommodations. 

“When my kids were in school we had accommodations," he said. “You make accommodations. It's not just for that—it's for like a kid who has an inhaler, you make an accommodation. And you, I wish the board would do something to accommodate both sides on this.” 

Weyermuller, in his remarks, emphasized a desire for respect and civil discourse. 

“I don't like the hate,” he said. “I don't feel hate. I wish people say ‘love thy neighbor.’ I don't like the sign that says, 'hate has no home here.' Because I don't hate. I want everybody to do well.” 

Weyermuller also expressed concern over what he viewed as a double standard in public discourse surrounding parental advocacy groups.

“I don't want bullying,” he said. “I feel bullying kind of going on against the Mom's for Liberty, which I'm not affiliated with. I'm not sure why. They should have First Amendment rights just like everybody else.” 

He also criticized policies allowing biological males to compete in girls’ sports.

"I don't want men playing in women's sports. I've seen Riley Gaines talking about this. She should not be playing against a man in a swimming competition."

Weyermuller's speech was met with applause and later shared on Facebook. 

“MY 2 MINUTES PUBLIC COMMENT: Deerfield School Board 109 tonight. About 400 in attendance with most here to discuss the locker room incident,” he wrote.

The next Deerfield District 109 School Board meeting is scheduled for May 15 from 7 to 9:30 p.m.