Dale Bass – KTW
Gerald Watson expects his fellow trustees will be in favour of a new policy that could put to rest an ongoing concern raised about how the Kamloops-Thompson school district deals with homophobia.
Watson, who chairs the school district’s policy committee, planned to introduced the new policy at the board meeting on Monday, Jan. 26.
It is expected to be put to a vote on Monday, Feb. 2.
In the summer of 2013, the issue about the existing policy came to a head after a South Kamloops secondary student completed a project on homophobic bullying.
The student felt the existing policy was inadequate and made a presentation to trustees, who referred it to Watson’s committee and asked for input from the Kamloops-Thompson Teachers’ Association (KTTA) and the district’s parent-advisory council.
That review led the committee to decide the existing policy was adequate.
“But, it had a lot of media play at the time,” Watson said, noting school-district Supt. Karl deBruijn wanted to address the issue.
“And he did a review of other districts,” Watson said. “He wanted something more modern and I think this policy fits.”
The existing policy, which Watson’s motion would delete, is titled “Race Relations” and does not include reference to homophobia.
The proposed policy references the province’s Human Rights Code and sets out several requirements for the district to address “racism, homophobia or any other form of discrimination.”
It would commit the board to support:
• Creating an environment in the school district that promotes non-discrimination consistent with the Human Rights Code;
• Hiring employees on the basis of merit consistent with human rights;
• Providing students with educational programs that will assist them in participating in and contributing to a diverse society;
• Reducing language and cultural barriers;
• Communicating effectively with all students, parents, employees and other partner groups in the diverse community.