The school board is backing up its new anti-homophobia policy with more than $20,000 in funding.
Trustees voted last week to allocate $21,500 in the upcoming school year to implement its new sexual orientation and gender identity policy.
“We’re looking at a two-year window regarding that policy,” superintendent Sherry Elwood told trustees. “We believe that the broadest mandate of that policy would demand that we need to do it thoughtfully, purposefully and broadly, so this isn’t just about raising awareness and in-servicing teachers. We’re hoping to address all employees of our district eventually.”
Elwood presented a draft implementation plan, which includes a budget of $21,500 for this summer and the 2011-12 school year.
Trustees were unanimous in their support of the plan.
“I think this is on the right road, and I am proud to be in the district, one of 12 in B.C. that actually has a policy, and to see that we’re proactively getting into it makes me feel really warm and fuzzy,” said trustee Corinne McLellan.
This policy has received a lot of positive feedback from trustees across the province at the B.C. School Trustees’ Association academy who think School District 71 is being proactive, according to trustee Janice Caton.
“I think we’re leaders in this field, and I thank management for providing a safe environment for all students and staff in the district,” she said. “I believe this plan supports students. I think anything we can do to support the learning environment for all our students is imperative, and this is a really good step. I think our district being proactive is wonderful.”
The first phase will take place this summer.
The district will recruit a team of two counsellors — elementary and secondary — through a summer job posting to review directions from the policy regulation, to investigate and gather the resources that exist, to review other resources and recommend new ones for purchase, to order resources and to consider strategies to in-service school, district and program teams.
Phase 2 will be implemented during the school year, and the team of counsellors will invite a larger focus group to outline an in-service plan and schedule for all school community stakeholders. This will include planning for a full day of programming for “train the trainer” sessions and school, district and program teams.
“We want to look at a train a trainer model so it’s sustainable over time,” said Elwood. “We have everything from a new employee orientation piece that goes into the work the human resources department does to a broader and more deeper training for staff who would be dealing directly with students. We believe we have a responsibility to engage our entire school community, from parents as stakeholders, but also for every employee of our district to be aware of what our standards are.”
A Pride Advisory Committee will be established in the district, while student forums will be organized at three secondary schools, and there will be opportunities for students to form Gay Straight Alliances.
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