Public school trustee wants GSA privacy enshrined in School Act
At least two public school trustees choked up Tuesday when a divided board opted to discuss provincial advocacy for gay-straight alliances after the Oct. 16 civic election, instead of before.
A four-part motion brought forward Tuesday by trustee Bridget Stirling proposed lobbying Education Minister David Eggen to amend the School Act to explicitly prevent schools from notifying parents or guardians when a student joins a gay-straight alliance (GSA), or similar school club.
The motion also proposed the board publicly re-affirm its support for, and policies around GSAs, to write welcome letters to all district GSAs, and to prevent district staff from referring students to any service that aims to “change or repair” a student’s gender identity or sexual orientation.
Eggen and provincial officials are meeting with school trustees across the province this month to discuss potential amendments to the School Act.
Although the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act would usually prevent school employees from divulging a student’s sexual orientation or gender identity, Stirling said public debate and ambiguity should prompt Eggen to make it clear in the School Act.
Stirling’s motion prompted a divided public reaction. Ten people, many of whom work with LGBTQ advocacy or aid organizations, spoke in favour of Stirling’s motion, saying GSAs save lives.
One woman, Mary McNeil, cautioned trustees they need plenty of evidence before talking to young students about LGBTQ issues, or they may be complicit in “child abuse.”
Lauren Alston, provincial GSA co-ordinator at the University of Alberta’s Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services, said the threat of potentially “outing” students who join a GSA will push away the youth who need that support the most.
School board trustees typically introduce a “notice of motion” at one school board meeting to warn their colleagues there will be a discussion at the next regular meeting.
A unanimous vote of the board is required to waive that notice and discuss the motion. The board voted 6-3 in favour of proceeding with the debate. Trustees Cheryl Johner, Michael Janz, Ray Martin, Michelle Draper, Nathan Ip and Stirling voted in favour, and Orville Chubb, Ken Gibson and Sherry Adams were opposed. Stirling and Draper were emotional after the motion failed.
Chubb said after the vote he believes students deserve privacy, but the vocal opposition and suspicion around the topic means the board should follow its usual process for hearing a motion.