Before the Kootenay Lake school board approved a policy amendment last week intended to protect students from discrimination and bullying due to their sexual orientation or gender identity, superintendent Jeff Jones took the opportunity to add his voice to the debate.
“It’s really timely that this has finally come to the board for consideration because Feb. 25 is Pink Shirt Day,” Jones said, expressing his admiration for the high school students responsible for starting the anti-bullying initiative.
In an emotional public address, Jones recounted how while looking for a superintendent position years ago he had to keep in mind whether his new community would accept his relationship with his husband, on account of still-prevalent homophobia in Canada.
And though Jones believes the Kootenays are a fairly progressive, accepting environment, he believes there’s more work to be done before students will live in a hate and bullying-free environment.
“In speaking with my husband, he has told me we’re not as far along as we’d like to think. As superintendent I can talk very openly about my relationship with my husband, but I had to look for a community where I would feel safe. That tells me we’re not very far along.”
Jones said he surrounds himself with like-minded individuals, but noted that’s not always an option for students.
He said this policy, which has been years in the making, will help make school environments more inclusive for students of every sexual identity and gender.
But he was initially reluctant to bring it forward.
“As many people know, I’ve been hesitant because I didn’t want the community to get confused and think I was bringing it forward as a personal agenda item.”
And though he wasn’t involved in the voting process, he expressed his enthusiasm for hearing the debate.
“This policy has been a long time coming,” said board chair Lenora Trenaman. “Change or not, I’m hoping we’ll put this forward to the right committee for the right step.”
Curtis Bendig spoke in favour of the motion, saying it enshrines what “the vast majority of us now know intuitively: discrimination is unacceptable.
“There is no question our board and district are committed to creating a safe, progressive community for our students and staff. I would urge my fellow trustees to bring this policy into effect.”
Trustee Sharon Nazaroff proposed an amendment to the policy, but some board members took issue with a phrase that asserted queer students face “difficult and unique challenges” and voted it down.
“There’s a certain assumption here I’m not prepared to make about a large group of very diverse people, though I appreciate the intent,” said Bendig.
In a conversation with the Star after the meeting, Bendig said he believed the additional clause was voted down due to the board’s reluctance to mess with the policy’s wording at the last minute.
“The important piece to me was respecting the work of the policy and governance committee. I wasn’t comfortable doing all this word-smithing at the 11th hour.”
Becky Blair, president of the Creston Valley Teachers Association, was present specifically to see if the policy would pass.
“Within our union we’ve wanted this policy for many years,” she said. She noted that when the policy was first brought to the board, ten districts already had a similar one in place. There are now 30 districts with comparable policies.
“We’re finally catching up. We’re about in the middle of the pack,” she said.
When she learned the policy had passed, Blair called herself “joyous” and said she wanted to “dance on the tabletops.”
“I hope this shows that this board recognizes the fact there is a group of students who need particular policies and procedures to ensure they’re well treated. What we would like to see is programs and club in school that address these concerns.”
Trenaman said ultimately the policy is intended to include every student, regardless of religion, skin colour or sexual identity.
“It’s about creating an environment where everybody feels like they have a place and will be embraced. Everyone has to feel they have a safe place.”