Education board rejects petition to change Oregon’s period-product rules – By Beth Slovic (The Oregonian/OregonLive) / Sept 19, 2022
The Oregon State Board of Education on Monday rejected a petition from a Southern Oregon mom who sought to change the implementation of a 2021 law that mandates period products in all K-12 bathrooms, including bathrooms for boys as young as 5.
Oregon’s Menstrual Dignity Act went into full effect at the beginning of the current school year. It also covers community colleges and public universities, although the petition sought to change only the rules in K-12 schools.
Cherylene Stritenberg of Medford, who is also an Eagle Point School District board member, wanted to narrow the state rules that period products go in all school bathrooms and instead go in “at least” two bathrooms at each school, arguing that would save schools money.
Stritenberg submitted her petition as an individual on June 23, when many school districts were already moving ahead with buying and installing dispensers for free tampons and maxi pads for students. Supporters of the law said it would ensure no student who menstruates, including transgender boys, lacked free access to period products.
