After an hour-and-a-half of responses in a standing room only board room, the Hanover School Board will continue talking about what the next step is in regards to recent LGBTQ education and human rights requests.

Over 150 people gathered to hear the comments of each trustee after Mika Schellenberg, a Grade 12 student at Steinbach Regional Secondary School, gave a presentation at the May 3rd board meeting urging trustees to adopt the same policy as the Winnipeg School Division.

Trustee Rick Peters said, "My calling is to respect and love all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or their nationality, of their race or of their beliefs. Furthermore, the primary role of a school board is to govern the schools under its jurisdiction in accordance with all legal requirements while, at the same time, reflecting the community beliefs and values."

Communication is a key ingredient trustee Brad Unger says he felt is missing. 

"The different viewpoints on this are not talking. They're yelling, but not to each other. This isn't going to end because we're going to come up with some decision and half are going to love it and say we got it right, the other half will dislike the idea and want to change it back. That's going to continue unless we talk."

A month ago Cyndy Friesen mentioned to Schellenberg she was sorry she felt the need was great enough to come make the presentation. Trustee Sarah Dyck says she's not sorry because presenting to the board showed incredible courage, bravery and shows that students care about issues.

"I think this conversation is good, I'll agree with Brad in that. I think these conversations are good to have and we have to be willing to listen to each other. I will go out and say I'm a Christian and I believe that, that's not the right lifestyle, however, I care about you and I care about people and I don't care about the ins and outs. I think it's really important that we still have that respect and we still have that love, and be willing to have those conversations and be okay with disagreeing."

"I know the request has been made here for us to bring our policy closer to something of the Winnipeg School Division," says trustee Sue Doerksen. "But, if we look at the Winnipeg School Division policy, they call it the 'Diversity and Equity Education' policy, yet they continue to pull out only a group of people and emphasize that we must bring that into every single classroom, and bring in activities, and put it in a positive light. A belief that not everyone holds, a value that not everyone holds, a view that not everyone holds. We cannot do that."

Trustee Shannon Friesen explains there are aspects of psychological and safety which are the base and foundational levels of an individual's needs and if their needs are not met, learning cannot take place.

"If we want success in our schools, we need the basics for our students and some students have different home lives than the rest of us. So, I think we need to take that into consideration."

Michelle McHale was in attendance at the meeting listening to the responses from each trustee.Trustee Ruby Wiens says the topic is not a comfortable subject for many, which is why it should be discussed with open and productive dialogue.

"[The letter reads], 'The Hanover School Division has an opportunity to provide a safe place for discussion as well as to become a leader in providing information pertinent to the conversation. Hanover School Division can also be a place of moderation where every voice is heard and no one is left out. To pass up this opportunity would be a great oversight.' I agree, and I agree with Brad. I think those conversations are so important to have."

On the note of not informing parents of questions asked by students, trustee Lynn Barkman notes, "I'm a strong believer that parents are legally responsible to provide for their children. It would be irresponsible and overstepping parents authority to withhold information from parents. Parents should always be number one and be in authority of their children."

Trustee Cyndy Friesen notes Schellenberg mentioned some of her friends who have come out to their parents have not found support at home. Friesen says she agrees this is the case in some situations.

"I can confirm that not all parents would be very accepting of their child coming out. Approximately three years ago when Bill 18 was being debated I had a parent approach me in a public venue surrounded by about 20 people and boldly tell me that if he had a gay kid, he would take him into the basement and fix that. We would like to believe that all our kids have unconditionally love and support from their parents, but the reality is that this isn't always the case."

Chair Ron Falk closed the response session saying there is a great deal of reporting that goes on within the schools between teachers, guidance counsellors and resource teachers. Falk adds guidance counsellors are legally obligated to inform parents if their child comes to speak with them, though all the details of the meeting are not necessarily shared.

"However, it seems on this particular topic we as a division are being asked to deliberately withhold information from a parent. We are not the parent. The parents have entrusted their child or children to the school division for a significant portion of the day, not to raise them, but to provide them with a well-rounded educational experience. For the school division to steal a child away from a parent by withholding information is completely unacceptable. In my mind, withholding information from a parent in any other situation would never be considered or tolerated by anyone in this room, so why would it be tolerated here. We can't pick and choose what we want to tell parents or what we want to communicate with them."

The board will continue to discuss the issue. Falk says, as a board, they want to do what is fair and equitable for everyone. 

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