The Fayette County Board of Education unanimously approved new policy language Monday night to protect students, teachers and school district employees from discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
Fayette County joins about half a dozen other Kentucky public school districts that specifically prohibit such discrimination. All of Kentucky's 174 public school districts ban discrimination based on gender.
Fayette's new policy goes into effect immediately.
Superintendent Tom Shelton said the new provision was added as a part of the district's regular annual policy review, after some community groups requested the change.
"We received requests last year from some of our community partners, including the Fayette County Education Association and the Kentucky Fairness Alliance, to take a look at it," he said.
Shelton said the groups requested the change because they had heard of some reports of bullying or harassment of people based on their gender identity or sexual orientation.
Fayette Schools already prohibit harassment or discrimination based on race, creed, color or religion. The update adds gender identity and sexual orientation to that list.
It covers students and certified and classified employees.
"Technically, these groups always have been covered by law, so we aren't adding anyone who has not been there already," Shelton said. "We don't tolerate harassment toward any student or employee. But we just felt this new language makes a stronger statement so that people understand what our stance is."
Brad Hughes, a spokesman for the Kentucky School Boards Association, said the U.S. Department of Education holds that Kentucky school districts' general prohibition against discrimination based on sexual discrimination covers all discrimination involving gender.
"But about half a dozen boards wanted more specific language, and have added sexual orientation or gender identity," he said.
Also Monday night, board members gave Shelton glowing grades on his first annual evaluation since becoming school superintendent last year. They said he met or exceeded expectations in eight different measures ranging from leadership to community relations and professional standards.
Shelton was paid about $244,000 in his first year on the job. He will receive a basic 2-percent raise in the coming year, the same as other district employees.
Monday, July 23, 2012
New Fayette schools policy prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation
This from Jim Warren at the Herald Leader:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
9 comments:
As a casual observer in our District, this policy has been a long time in coming. I applaud the specific language used by the Board of Education, and I appreciate those who advocated it, including Kentucky Fairness and the Kentucky Fairness Association.
To see why the change is needed, please check out the comments on the Herald Leader under the same article. To make sure it is implemented, FCPS must have clear guidelines in place for those who wish to file a discrimination complaint.
Continue to read the comments on the H-L webpage. Search under "non-discrimination."
Oh and now we need a few words from "Focus on the Family"
Interestingly, no mention of the change on FCPS website.
"Get er done" and don't remind the public about it....
July 24, 2012 2:38 PM: Your observation "no mention of the change on FCPS website" and "'Get er done' and don't remind the public about it...." is interesting. On one hand, if I had been subjected to years of discrimination, I'm sure I might feel the same and I might want a parade in honor of every incremental step toward true equality. But my ultimate hope would be that such considerations don't raise an eyebrow because the change is sufficiently acceptable to the majority and that there is little opposition or need for fanfare.
As we see from the comments at the Herald-Leader, sometimes the celebration only encourages outrage from the usual suspects and we all get to be righteously indignant all over again.
I am satisfied that the current board voted unanimously and apparently didn't see the vote as particularly difficult. I agree it was past time for the change. Enjoy it.
July 24, 2012 2:38 PM: Your observation "no mention of the change on FCPS website" and "'Get er done' and don't remind the public about it...." is interesting. On one hand, if I had been subjected to years of discrimination, I'm sure I might feel the same and I might want a parade in honor of every incremental step toward true equality. But my ultimate hope would be that such considerations don't raise an eyebrow because the change is sufficiently acceptable to the majority and that there is little opposition or need for fanfare.
As we see from the comments at the Herald-Leader, sometimes the celebration only encourages outrage from the usual suspects and we all get to be righteously indignant all over again.
I am satisfied that the current board voted unanimously and apparently didn't see the vote as particularly difficult. I agree it was past time for the change. Enjoy it.
I'm enjoying it, Richard, but what's next.
How will the policy be handled? How will it be implemented since few know about the change except those who read the H-L?
Do you think each principal will mention the change at the first staff meeting? Should it even be mentioned? Or should we lesbian and gay employees, teachers, and students just rejoice in a victory that few know about?
I have no clue what's next....but H-L readership is very substantial and I'd be surprised if Shelton didn't at least mention it in his opening meeting with administrators.
We know that changing a policy isn't sufficient to change people's hearts. But over time, as more incidents occur (and they will), they will be dealt with in light of the new policy, and from now on, there shouldn't be any confusion about whether it's OK to make a kid cry because his or her sexual orientation.
My experience teaches me that principals will be well-aware of the new language. In "my shop," I'd mention it but that's about all. No, wait. There's one more thing I'd do. I'd point out to the faculty that the U S Department of Education is encouraging the use of civil rights statutes as a weapon to fight unrepentant bullies who target victims based on sex, gender, disability... and that those same statutes can be used to sue any teacher, principal or district that refuses to protect kids from harassment.
I hope no principal will have to do anything different as a result of the new policy, but of course this assumes all principals are staunch opponents of all bullying already, and I know that is not likely to be the case. I hope this will be new guidance for those who may need it.
But in the meantime, I'd suggest cutting the Superintendent and Board some slack. I think the LBGT community had a good day.
If folks want to publicize the change more, I would suggest a boat load of letters to the newspaper congratulating the administration on the decision and sharing some stories to let the public know why the change was important.
Thanks for your comments.
Maybe folks could have a T-shirt made.
: )
Post a Comment