OLDS – INNISFAIL - The Chinook's Edge School Division board will be discussing the recently-passed Bill 24 at its upcoming Nov. 29 meeting to see if any changes to the division's policies and procedures are needed, says superintendent Kurt Sacher.
Passed in the legislature on Nov. 15, Bill 24 makes it unlawful for anyone to disclose a student's membership in a gay-straight alliance (GSA).
GSAs are student support organizations allowed under the School Act.
“I think what you can anticipate is we will take a look at any alignment we need to make with any administrative procedures or policies to respond to the legislation,” Sacher told Mountian View Publishing.
“We don't anticipate significant changes as a result of the legislation. We feel very confident that the division was already really well set up to support the safety of all students and we will be responding to the legislation as required.”
Bill 24 passed with the support of 42 MLAs, with Liberal, Alberta Party and PC members voting with the government.
Premier Rachel Notley said the legisation has the support of most Albertans and represents a step forward in protecting the rights of gay students.
Twenty-three United Conservative Party (UCP) MLAs voted against Bill 24.
Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House UCP MLA Jason, who is UCP interim leader in the legislature, was not immediately available for an interview regarding Bill 24.
However, he did provide the following comments:
“We support GSAs. We don't want to see kids being outed and we don't want to see mandatory reporting to parents, but we have some concerns with the legislation.
“This bill has passed the legislature and we are moving on. There is no court challenge coming from the UCP.
“I'm certain discussions (of Bill 24) will continue among the public and there's nothing wrong with that.”
Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills MLA Nathan Cooper did not immediatley return calls seeking comments.
The Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA), the group representing all public, separate and francophone school boards in Alberta, says its member boards will comply with the legislation.
“We've had a policy in place for many years that supports a school environment where all children can feel safe and respected,” ASBA president Mary Martin said.
“The association believes optimal learning occurs in welcoming, caring, respectful, safe and healthy learning environments that respect diversity, foster a sense of belonging, and promote student well-being. Each student has the right to learn in inclusive environments where equality of opportunity, dignity and respect are promoted.”
The Alberta Catholic School Trustees' Association has said it has concerns with Bill 24.
“We feel that Bill 24 puts undue pressure on the school principal to be, in effect, the sole decision maker who is only accountable to the minister of education bypassing long entrenched best practices and chains of authority as outlined in the School Act,” association officials said.
There are 43 schools in the Innisfail-based Chinook's Edge School Division.
Kurt Sacher,Chinook's Edge superintendent
"We feel very confident that the division was already really well set up to support the safety of all students and we will be responding to the legislation as required."
