Addressing Issues of Sexual Orientation

1
Addressing Issues of Sexual Orientation Gender
Identity

• Report to the
• Board of Education
• June 24, 2008

2
Presentation Agenda

• Purpose for this work
• What this work means from a parent perspective
• Meeting District Goal 3 legal requirements,
  work in California schools
• Action plan to address this issue

3
Purpose of this work

• To build staff awareness in order to support our
  students and families
• To understand the adverse affects of negative
  language and attitudes about gay and lesbian
  people to employees and students, even the very
  young
• To build a safe, respectful climate for all
  students and staff

4
What this work means from a parent perspective
5
District Goal 3 Ensure all students will be in
educational environments that are safe and
conducive to learning

• Legal References
• AUSD Board Policy 5145.3 Nondiscrimination/Harass
  ment
• Education Code Section 2000
• Penal Code Section 422.6 (A)
• AB 537 Student Safety Violence Prevention Act
  of 2000

6
Plan for this work

• Curriculum Development Team
• Develop teacher facilitation skills, which can
  integrate with the Caring School Communities
  class meeting format around anti-bullying,
  anti-slurs
• Develop one lesson per grade level focused on
  inclusiveness, family diversity, anti-bullying
• Develop resources for each grade level books,
  DVDs, etc.

7
Elementary Curriculum Team

• Teachers
• Felice Botts
• Anne Faria-Poynter
• Heidi Huhn
• Audrey Hyman
• Sharon Jackson
• Serena Kielty
• Lynn Kinsey
• Maggie Lowe
• Jeni Marr
• Madelyn Merola
• Jan Rosa
• Michelle Toth
• Todd Wolf

• Sean Cahill, Parent
• Barry Chersky, Coach
• Gail Rossiter, Wellness Coordinator
• Jan Goodman, Principal
• Debbie Wong, District

8
Action Plan for this work

• 2007-08
• October 29th Staff Development for elementary
  staff
• LGBT Curriculum Committee met 12/7, 1/15, 2/6,
  4/16
• Development of FAQs
• March 13th PTA Council presentation

• 2008-09
• October 30th Staff Development for secondary
  staff
• Fall Two regional community forums
• Fall Recommendation to Board to adopt elementary
  supplemental materials, curriculum
• Semester 2 implementation of elementary
  curriculum
• Ongoing focused support to boost secondary Gay
  Straight Alliance (GSA) student organizations
• Refine required high school course Current Life
  Issues

9
Implementation Communication to the Community

• Frequently Asked Questions for staff and parents
• Curriculum development
• Opting out
• Fall regional parent community forums
• Development of District protocol to address issue
• Site administrator support