Two recommendations designed to protect LGBTQ students across the province were omitted in the Grande Yellowhead Public School Division鈥檚 (GYPSD) draft policy released last month.
The draft policy was released on Feb. 17, about a month after the province released guidelines to help school boards implement mandatory LGBTQ policies.
The province鈥檚 18-page guidelines include 12 best practices, such as respecting an individual鈥檚 right to self-identification and providing safe access to washroom and changeroom facilities.
School boards have until March 31 to finalize their policies before presenting them to the minister of education for final consideration.
The draft policy published by GYPSD includes most of the best practices put forward by the province, but fails to mention anything about dress codes that respect an individual鈥檚 gender identity or about minimizing gender-segregated activities鈥攖wo of the best practices recommended by the province.
鈥淲e have to remember that the guidelines and the best practices are exactly that,鈥� said Brenda Rosadiuk, board chair for GYPSD.
She said a committee consisting of staff and administration from across the division proposed the draft policy to the board to ensure it would work for everybody.
鈥淲e really just want to get it right for everybody across the division鈥攖he students, the staff, and the families in our communities,鈥� said Rosadiuk.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a fine balance.鈥�
Rosadiuk acknowledged the draft policy doesn鈥檛 specifically include language about sex-segregated activities or dress codes, but suggested those issues听 would be covered on a 鈥渃ase-by-case basis.鈥�
鈥淲e have confidence in our school administrators that they know their kids best and I can confidently say that they would handle each case in the best interest of that student and those around them,鈥� said Rosadiuk.
Betsy DeClercq, Jasper鈥檚 school board trustee for GYPSD, reiterated Rosadiuk鈥檚 comments.
鈥淚 feel confident that we鈥檒l be able to develop a good policy that supports LGBTQ students and all our students, and that we鈥檒l enable parents across the division to feel comfortable and secure that all our schools will have a safe, caring and respectful environment for all students,鈥� said DeClercq.听 听
While the draft policy omits these two best practices, it does specifically address some of the province鈥檚 other recommendations, including providing access to a single-occupancy gender-neutral washroom.
The draft policy was briefly discussed with parents during a parent council meeting at Jasper Elementary School on March 2.
The general consensus was that the new policy was a step in the right direction.
During the meeting, DeClercq, who represents both schools in Jasper as well as The Learning Connection, told parents there were two major concerns expressed by parents from across the division.
The first concern was about transgender students using washrooms that do not correspond with their biological gender, such as a young boy who is transgendered using the girl鈥檚 bathroom.
鈥淧arents did not want that student to access the girl鈥檚 washroom, they were uncomfortable with that,鈥� said DeClercq, explaining that out of 25 respondents about 15 were concerned about this particular issue.
There are about 5,000 students enrolled across the Grande Yellowhead Public School Division.
To get around that issue, DeClercq said the draft policy was written in a way that transgender students would not be allowed to use the washroom of their choice. Instead, the issue would be treated on a case-by-case basis to ensure all students would feel safe and cared for.
She also pointed out that a gender-neutral washroom would also help solve this issue, although she acknowledged the washroom itself is not an ideal solution because it is segregating and could help identify LGBTQ students.
DeClercq said the other concern amongst parents in the division was that a school does not have to inform parents if a student decides to tell a staff member they are gay or bisexual.听
鈥淚n this policy the student鈥檚 right to privacy is protected,鈥� said DeClercq, emphasizing that it is only a draft policy and is still subject to change.
鈥淚f that child has requested that the parents are not to be told, the policy states now that should be respected,鈥� said DeClercq.
She said this is similar to other policies that are already in place, such as if a student tells a staff member she is pregnant, the teacher is not obligated to tell the parents.
The school board will meet again on March 16 to discuss the draft policy before submitting it to the minister of education for finial consideration.
The next parent council meeting at the Jasper Junior/Senior High School is March 14 at 7 p.m.
For those who want to learn more about the policy, visit www.understandingtheguidelines.ca.
Paul Clarke [email protected]
