Alberta faculties grapple with situation of help for LGBTQ youth, employees

The Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA) was clarifying its stance of supporting and continuing to support its members in developing policy, guidelines and processes supporting students, teachers, families and others related to sexual orientation and gender identity after a failed debate Monday.

It needed the support of just over 66 per cent of delegates attending the association’s fall meeting to be accepted on the agenda.

But enough boards – about 38 per cent – voted against dealing with the motion, arguing the issue isn’t prominent enough.

Michael Janz, the Edmonton board’s chairman, says research has shown that sexual-minority youth experience more bullying, harassment and alienation than their heterosexual peers.

The Alberta School Boards Association said it already has a policy in place to protect students, but it doesn’t include specific LGBTQ language.

Education Minister David Eggen said Tuesday he sent letters to school boards across the province with instructions to prepare to welcome the children of Syrian refugees.

“We think that our association, which holds itself to be the gold standard of education policy, should have a policy for sexual orientation and gender minority students”, he said.

Eggen also said the Alberta government has plans for additional funding to address increasing needs for services in schools with high populations of students who are learning English.

Edmonton’s Catholic School District, where trustees feuded openly last month while debating an LGBTQ policy, was one of only three separate boards to vote in favour of discussing the motion.

The proposal called on the association to support all 61 public, Catholic and francophone school boards in establishing inclusive, safe and healthy learning and working environments for everyone, including the LGBTQ community.

“I need you to stand with me to make sure that we have something that is not just words on paper, but it moves words into action”, said Eggen.

He said the government is working with the association and with individual boards.

“We must provide that additional funding to support students that might require a bit of attention and helping hand in the classroom”, Eggen said.

Currently, 13 of Alberta’s publicly funded school divisions have a few form of a policy.

Cheryl Low, chairwoman of Calgary’s separate board, said she and her colleagues opposed the motion because ASBA already has a broader policy that gives students the right to learn in settings where “equality of opportunity, dignity and respect are promoted”.