INNISFAIL - Chinook’s Edge School Division (CESD) and Red Deer Catholic Schools await more information on Premier Danielle Smith's sweeping plans to change gender and sexuality polices for students,
CESD remains committed to student safety and acceptance, says board of trustees chair Holly Bilton.
“The one thing I know that I can tell you is that we are really confident with our welcoming and caring policy and that will continue,” Bilton told the Albertan. “Every student does matter. Every student is important to us and we are going to take good care of them.
“We have to work within provincial requirements – we will wait to see what those look like and how those actions form – but we will take good care of our kids because they are our number 1 priority.”
Once implemented, the new provincial policies would restrict or prohibit many aspects of gender affirming care for trans youth, including parental consent being required for youths 15 and under to change their pronoun or preferred name in schools.
As well, parents would need to opt-in for their children when teachers plan to discuss subject matters related to gender identity, sexual orientation, or sexuality for K-12 students.
There are 11,000 students in the Innisfail headquartered CESD, with K-12 schools across the district.
The superintendents of CESD and the Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools (RDCRS) division both say they are awaiting more information and details on the government plans.
Kurt Sacher is the superintendent of CESD.
“Chinook's Edge School Division is waiting to receive direction from Alberta Education. Until then we will continue our work to provide a safe and caring environment for all students and staff,” Sacher told the Albertan.
Kathleen Finnigan is the the superintendent of the 10,600-student Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools (RDCRS) division.
"RDCRS staff, with the support of parents/guardians, remain committed to creating a Catholic environment where all students are welcomed, loved and cared for. We are awaiting further details on these new policies therefore it would be premature for us to comment at this time," Finnigan told the Albertan.
CESD trustees will be discussing the changes going forward, Bilton said.
“I’m sure it will end up on our agenda at some point in the future. Until they (government) figures it out and our education minister talks to us, that’s where we will get our information first,” she said.
“Right now we have to wait to hear what the education minister has to tell us and see what they come out with for a procedure.”
The division’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identify procedure AP 3-27 requires the superintendent to, among other things, “Develop, implement, and evaluate inclusive educational strategies, professional development opportunities, and administrative guidelines to ensure that LGBTQ individuals and their families are welcomed and treated with respect and dignity in all aspects of the school division’s operations.”
