Gender identity becomes part of school policy

After a finale featuring 62 people addressing the Kalispell Public Schools Board of Trustees, “gender identity, sexual orientation or gender expression” were added Tuesday to the list of protected classes in the school district’s Equal Education, Nondiscrimination and Sex Equity Policy.

The policy now clearly states that students will not be denied equal access to programs, activities, services or extracurricular programs on the basis of gender — not just sex — and can report discrimination or intimidation.

The policy was amended despite trustee Steve Davis’ attempt to retain the current nondiscrimination policy. Davis’ motion was met with silence from fellow trustees when board chairman Joe Brenneman asked if anyone wanted to second the motion.

Trustees and about 100 people in attendance listened as parents, grandparents, students, staff, residents, nonresidents, members of church communities and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community stood up to speak for their allotted two minutes.

“Race, religion, ethnicity and disability are specially listed in current policy because of known historical discrimination that is disproportionate by that experienced by other classes,” said Matthew Brake, who said he was discriminated against in school under a false assumption regarding his sexual orientation. “The evidence is clear discrimination occurs disproportionately based on gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation. We need this policy change to set expectations and limits to students and staff.”

Stephanie Woodland, a Flathead High School junior, thought comments made by opponents to the revision were “proxy arguments.”

“Arguments are hiding a real problem, which is homophobia,” Woodland said.

Many opponents to the policy change, such as former Kalispell Public Schools teacher Patricia Hodge, reiterated that the existing policy covered all students and by adding more groups, others will feel the need for inclusion.

“All means all and there can be no mistake,” Hodge said.

Other opponents said testimony regarding bullying should be addressed in the district’s anti-bullying policies.

Some people went as far as to say they would never vote for a school levy again. James Atwell went further in speaking against trustees.

“This is outrageous,” Atwell said. “I think these people should be shunned, all their businesses boycotted by all of these people of this valley.”

Glacier High School science teacher Ben Young was concerned about how the revised policy would be enforced in schools.

Young said his questions on the implications of amending the policy had gone unanswered by trustees.

“I contend that adding a few words to this policy will do absolutely nothing to protect them. All the talk in favor of rewording this policy has been in protecting all of our students’ rights? Well let’s get real. It’s a paper policy. Protection of students happens with enforcement of policies,” Young said, adding later, “How will it be implemented from an administrative and teacher level in our schools? Do we know what this looks like in schools?

After hearing all the public testimony, trustees addressed the audience.

Trustee Tom Clark said based on the comments, discussions, phone calls and emails he’s received, a revision was necessary.

“Some of the words I’ve heard come to mind from letters about students we’re talking about [are] ‘They’re confused; they’re mentally ill; they’re deviant — objectionable, perverts, sick, wicked, freak; They’re abominations.’ One person stated if we follow this path America is doomed,” Clark said.

“One person made threats against the board as a whole, against the district and against us individuals. If this does not tell you this policy needs to be put into place, I don’t know what does,” he said.

Trustee Don Murray, who has been a proponent of the revision since the beginning, said he is even more convinced based on studies that a policy impacts how schools function.

“We know administrators are significantly more likely to intervene if they hear homophobic or derogatory comments or if they see inappropriate behavior,” Murray said. “We’re not the first to do this.”

Murray said he understood if opponents were upset enough not to vote for an incumbent, but advised against opposing school levies.

“I implore those who oppose this not to take out your disappointment or your anger on all the kids,” Murray said. “By opposing levies or conveying negative thoughts about this school district, it just hurts all the kids.”

Davis maintained that he didn’t hear any concrete testimony that students were denied access to education or were discriminated against to require a revision.

“I’m not seeing that the LGBT community does not have access to an equal education. I was picked on heavily as a kid because I was always the smallest guy in the class. It wasn’t fair, but there wasn’t anything in there for short people,” Davis said. “I think we have people here that want to add this to a policy because they want to make a group of people feel better. Emotion is no reason to change a policy.”

The policy revision comes after months of discussion and the third and final reading Tuesday.

Following three readings of any given policy, if no changes are recommended, the policy stands as written. Some people who spoke during public comment wanted a formal vote on the record.

The impetus for a policy change came as a recommendation to all Montana schools from the Montana School Boards Association in January.

The school board created a subcommittee to examine if the wording was necessary and a policy committee reviewed the wording before it went back to the school board.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.