Saline school board expected to vote on non-discrimination policy Sept. 28
For the second time this week, Saline students and community members lobbied the district to change its non-discrimination policy and urged board members to set aside any moral or religious views on homosexuality.
The debate centers on adding "sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression” to the district’s non-discrimination policy. And like a committee meeting where the issue was discussed Monday, no resolution was reached during Tuesday's full board meeting.
But board President David Friese said some board members were being unfairly targeted when no vote has been taken, leading a few at the table to nod in agreement.
“Before 2008, we didn’t have these policies at all,” Friese said. “Don’t assume how we will vote.”
Many who addressed the board referred to religious and moral issues.
Saline High junior Don Crawford told the board it has “not just a legal but a moral obligation” to make students feel safe, no matter their religious views. He concluded with a quote from Winston Churchill: “I never worry about action, but only inaction.”
Derek Smith, a former student, said, “I understand that some of the board members are feeling pre-judged. I understand what you are feeling. It happens every day in the LGBTQ community.”
After the meeting, Friese stressed the district's anti-bullying policy applies to the school board, every employee in the district and outside vendors. He said he doesn't think everyone realizes that policy is already in effect.
"It’s a blanket policy for everybody who has something to do with the school district, including us," he said. "And that may need some clarification.”
The district’s anti-bullying policy is separate from the non-discrimination policy. The position statement of the “Bullying, Harassment and Hazing” rule says:
“In order to provide a learning environment that is safe, conductive to the educational process, and free from unnecessary disruption, the Saline Area School District will not tolerate bullying, harassment, or hazing of students or staff by any of its students, employees, School Board members, vendors, contractors, or others doing business associated with the school district. Bullying, harassment, or hazing of any kind is inappropriate and subject to this regulation. Of particular concern is bullying, harassment, or hazing based on a person’s sex, age, color, disability, height, weight, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, or other personal characteristics.”
A common theme of the night was safety. Those who addressed the board often discussed the need for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students to feel safe at school and protected from bullying.
“My No. 1 concern is always their safety,” Friese said, “that we have a nurturing environment for them.”
Many who addressed the board referenced studies showing LGBTQ students tend to miss more school and contemplate and attempt suicide more often than their straight peers.
Heather Herrick, a former Saline student, addressed the board with her partner and two children next to her. She showed the board a photo of an Indiana teen who recently committed suicide after being bullied at school because students thought he was gay.
“We have a daughter who attends Saline now, and we have these two who will be coming,” Herrick said as she left the meeting. “I hope that the board realizes that this is an important issue for all students and families in this area. That it’s a decision that we don’t want them to take lightly.”
Superintendent Scot Graden distributed Saline’s current policies and the policies Ann Arbor schools recently adopted for the board to “look at the technical aspects of another nondiscrimination policy” and review before it votes on the issue on Sept. 28.
Saline’s current non-discrimination policy begins:
“The district will not discriminate against any person based on sex, race, color, national origin, religion, height, weight, marital status, handicap, age or disability.”
The recent change in Ann Arbor Public Schools' non-discrimination policy was often referenced during the meeting by both supporters of the change and administrators.
The Ann Arbor district’s non-discrimination policy says:
“No person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination in any educational program or activity available in any school on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, creed, political belief, age, national origin, linguistic and language differences, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, socioeconomic status, height, weight, marital or familial status or disability.”
Tara Cavanaugh is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530. Read more Saline news on our Saline page.
Comments
Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball
Wed, Sep 22, 2010 : 7:58 a.m.
Saline Student - I agree with you 100%
Saline Student
Thu, Sep 16, 2010 : 7:06 p.m.
I do not agree with LGBTQ groups using their anti-bullying agendas to attempt to institute rules to accommodate themselves in our schools. If a student is being bullied it is against the rules and the administration will take care of it as they are supposed to. These kids, all of whom I attend Saline with, are attempting to bring attention to themselves in an unnecessary manner. There has never been a huge problem with bullying, but it happens. I myself was a victim and the administration did their job. It makes no difference on the sexual orientation.
Jimmy Olsen
Thu, Sep 16, 2010 : 5:10 p.m.
How about we just change the bullying, harassment and discrimination policies to say "for any reason". This way they won't have to make changes to the policies for the next organization that comes to have themselves added.
Steven Harper Piziks
Thu, Sep 16, 2010 : 3:05 p.m.
Q = queer (for those who like that term instead of "gay" or "lesbian"). Eventually, the term will have more letters than the alphabet...
Steve Hendel
Thu, Sep 16, 2010 : 12:38 p.m.
Pardon my ignorance, but what is the "Q" in LGBTQ?
Tina
Thu, Sep 16, 2010 : 12:10 p.m.
From the SHS Student Handbook: Harassment or bullying is any gesture or written, verbal, graphic, or physical act (including electronically transmitted acts (i.e., internet, cell phone, personal digital assistant (pda), or wireless hand held device) that is reasonably perceived as being motivated either by any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression; or a mental, physical, or sensory disability or impairment; or by any other distinguishing characteristic. From the Saline Board of Education Policy Manual: The District will not discriminate against any person based on sex, race, color, > national origin, religion, height, weight, marital status, handicap, age, or disability. The students are trying to get the Policy Manual statement on discrimination changed to include "gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression," as is stated in the High School Student Handbook under the harrassment section. Mr. Piziks' statement above sums this up nicely. This change would more directly affect teachers, administrators and the school board. Bullying and harrassment of or by sutdents based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression are already addressed in the High School Student Handbook.
SMAIVE
Thu, Sep 16, 2010 : 6:18 a.m.
"Steven Harper Piziks" Nicely stated, it's not all about bullying and harrassment!
bwebb
Wed, Sep 15, 2010 : 7:34 p.m.
I really can not believe we have come to this as a country. Some things are just at a core evaluation right. Letting one group do this and another do that please. November hurry up.
Steven Harper Piziks
Wed, Sep 15, 2010 : 4:51 p.m.
As the policy currently stands, students can be excluded from school activities based on their sexual orientation. For example, students can be barred from bringing a same-sex date to a school dance or to prom, or a gay student can be dropped from a sports team because the coach doesn't want "that gay kid" in the locker room. I don't know if it does happen, but it can. The policy would also prevent Saline Schools from firing employees over their sexual orientation. Currently, Michigan law allows anyone to fire someone over their sexual orientation, but firing someone over their religion, race, sex, or veteran status is illegal. Saline would put into policy that sexual orientation is not a reason to fire--or hire--someone. This could also, possibly, open the door to Saline Schools extending medical benefits to same-sex partners of employees, though the State of Michigan itself doesn't acknowledge same-sex partnerships. Since Saline is funded by the state, this may or may not be a possibility.
A22Ypsi
Wed, Sep 15, 2010 : 3:31 p.m.
The Ann Arbor Public Schools excludes children from attending field trips based solely on skin color despite it's policy that "No person shall be excluded from participation in [...] any educational program or activity [...] on the basis of race, color [...]." So what exactly would this change accomplish, and why are both Saline and Ann Arbor acting as if AAPS has the moral high ground when it comes to anti-discrimation policies? Signed, A gay grad of the AAPS
xmo
Wed, Sep 15, 2010 : 2:39 p.m.
"other personal characteristics" is a phrase used in the Saline Anti-Bullying policy. Doesn't that cover everything the LGBTQ students are? I would think that they should be thankful for not being high lighted in the policy. I guess the LGBTQ students just need attention. To jeanarrett: What form of discrimination are the Saline students being subjected to? This sounded like an admin matter.
jeanarrett
Wed, Sep 15, 2010 : 1:25 p.m.
Kudos to Saline students for taking a stand on issues that are important to them and their fellow human beings--it's all part of what being a good citizen means. Never stand for discrimination in any form!