Nanaimo’s school board has given overwhelming support to a policy that aims to help students feel safe, whether gay or straight, rich or poor, Muslim or Christian.
The board voted unanimously at a special meeting June 1 to approve the new Nanaimo school district inclusion policy.
According to the school district, under the policy members of the school community can expect that programming, policies, communications and procedures will be inclusive and consider the fact the school district is comprised of different cultures, religious denominations, socio-economic statuses and sexual orientation.
Bob Esliger, assistant school superintendent, said the policy represents a beginning. The district now needs procedures that guide it in its practice to ensure there is a process to follow so that it is not discriminatory. The district can turn to the policy for guidance. It gives the district the ability to put the processes in place, Esliger said, adding it is also about creating safe schools.
Fitting that @sd68bc adopts #Inclusion policy the week before #Pride kicks off. #safe #respect #prideflag pic.twitter.com/a7kRt7aS9h
— School District 68 (@sd68bc) June 7, 2016
“If you’re constantly worried about being unsafe, you’re not protected … you’re not giving your all to your learning, so the only way that we can ensure that our students have every chance at being successful is to make sure that our schools are accepting of them for who they are,” said Esliger.
Another of the policy’s aspects is to have a code of conduct that is educative, said Esliger. In terms of next steps, he said the district wants to re-educate around the code of conduct and make it a “teachable piece” to ensure schools don’t create a code, implement it and forget about it.
Trustee Tania Brzovic agreed that it will make school safer.
“It’s inclusivity, it’s to make our schools a place where every kid and every parent … and all our staff regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, feel like they belong, that they are safe and valued and I think we are on the road to doing that,” said Brzovic.
Trustee Noah Routley was absent from the meeting.
To view the policy, please go to www.sd68.bc.ca/?p=5401.
