After a private member's bill that would have supported Alberta's school boards in allowing for the creation of Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) was voted down in legislature earlier this month, the Northern Lights School Division (NLSD) board of trustees discussed the idea of implementing such a system that would allow for the creation of GSAs across all of its schools at last week's regular meeting.
Board Chair Hrynyk said this was something the board should “absolutely” be encouraging, and asked that trustees consider supporting GSAs in all Northern Lights schools.
“As a public school system, I think it's important that we support and welcome the diversity of all students and staff, and it's imperative that as a system we make a statement to reinforce that message to our communities,” Hrynyk said.
Trustee Debra Lozinski said she would support the implementation of such a policy, stating it was important to offer something like this to all students.
Cold Lake trustee Mandi Skogen said that while she also was in full support of the idea, she didn't understand why it was necessary to have a policy in place simply to allow GSAs to form in schools, saying they should be seen as “just another school group.”
Hrynyk said speeches and presentations made by Kris Wells, a professor at the University of Alberta for sexual minority services, stated that it's important that school board's get behind GSAs and send out the message that they support diversity within schools.
“His reports state quite clearly that there is evidence of higher bullying rates for (gay) students in communities, and seeing suicide rates that suggests we need to be strong and say ‘yes, we do care about you, and yes we will support you,'” Hrynyk said.
Trustee Garry Kissel said he'd like to see a policy implemented that doesn't force each school to set up a club, but instead gives them the opportunity to set one up should there be a demand for one.
The board voted unanimously to approve Hrynyk's motion to support GSAs in all Northern Lights schools.