Report suggests ways schools can support diversity
After six months of discussions and preparation, a newly formed committee presented the Regina Public Schools board with 15 recommendations on how the division can make sure it is a safe space for all the diverse people it serves.
The special committee on diversity was created after a motion presented to the board in October was voted down, causing outcry and concern from the community. The motion called for the school division to “recognize and support” Pride week and to fly the Pride flag for a week every June
While initially formed from that controversy, the committee looked at how the division could ensure a safe space in its schools for all sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as all cultures, ethnicities and faiths.
The report’s recommendations were focused on five areas: acknowledgment and recognition of diversity; reviewing and updating policies and administrative procedures; creating new committees; protocol for displaying flags; and protocol for division-endorsed activities.
Jason Coleman, the division’s superintendent of student achievement and school services, was on the committee and presented its final report at the board meeting this week.
“Students are saying that we recognize that there is diversity in our school,” Coleman said during his presentation to the board.
“It would be a really good thing for us to further our understanding and include other diverse groups in how we function as a division and have the recognition of these groups through various ways.”
Three new committees are recommended: a multicultural advisory committee, a gender and sexual diversity advisory committee and a diversity steering committee, which would oversee the other two.
“The key thing here is that we’re hearing the voice of the people that we serve,” Coleman said.
For division-endorsed activities like Pride Week, National Indigenous Peoples Day and Pink Day, the report said staff and students are encouraged to participate, but that there needs to be clear communication with families about the event beforehand as some may choose not to take part. Schools are to provide other opportunities for students who do not participate.
“Part of our ideal here is that we are proud to provide a protected space for both participants and non-participants of division-endorsed events,” Coleman said.
The committee also recommended that any requests for a flag other than the usual Canadian flag be made using an application form that would require approval from division administration.
Throughout the recommendations is a theme of growing understanding between diverse groups and keeping good communication between the school division, individual schools and school communities.
Katherine Gagne, board chair for the division, said the report presented “good, strong recommendations” and that the division’s administration will now be going through the recommendations and “fleshing them out.”
The committee included division administration, school principals, a teacher and four community members and had multiple gender identities, sexualities and faith backgrounds represented. It first met in January with the purpose of guiding and informing “existing Regina Public Schools administrative procedures, practices and school-based activities related to issues of diversity,” according to the report.