Airdrie’s private schools are still discussing how they will respond to guidelines released by Alberta Education meant to protect LGBTQ student rights in the province.
“We are totally aware of the new guidelines,” said Ron Smith, a spokesperson for the private Airdrie Koinonia Christian School (AKCS). “We’ve been reviewing the guidelines, but we haven’t been meeting formally yet.”
The 21-page Alberta Education document, released Jan. 13, lays out a set of policies designed to protect students no matter their sexual orientation, gender expression or gender identity. Public school divisions, such as Rocky View Schools, must make mandatory policies public by March 31.
However, Alberta’s Schools Act does not include private schools in the mandatory adoption of the policy.
“The policy guidelines I sent out are meant to help school boards write their LGBTQ policy, although they can certainly work to develop their own language of what’s going on across the province and across the country,” said Alberta Education Minister David Eggen.
Though private schools won’t be bound by law to adopt the policy, Eggen noted they are still required to comply with other legislation protecting LGBTQ rights, such as Bill 10, which protects the establishment of Gay-Straight Alliances.
Smith said he couldn’t comment on whether AKCS would establish specific guidelines outlined by Alberta Education, such as mandatory washroom policies. As part of the guidelines, schools must have at least one single-stall washroom and students must have access to washrooms congruent with their gender identity.
“That is one I’m not sure of exactly,” he said. “We just celebrated our one-year (anniversary of the new building). Renovations are not on the list of my important items. If the Minister feels it’s important to Albertans, we would (consider it).
“I’m not an expert on the guidelines, one way or the other. I will say we take this seriously. We are continually providing a safe environment for students. Everything we do is about that.”
AKCS is one of many faith-based private schools in the province. Eggen said LGBTQ guidelines and freedom of religion could exist together in a “harmonious way.”
“Certainly, we respect the freedom of religion that is also captured in the (Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms),” he said. “We’re dealing with very vulnerable young children. We need to make sure that everyone is afforded the same rights to safe and caring school environments.”
École francophone d’Airdrie, part of the FrancoSud school division, will be required to make public their policy by Alberta Education’s deadline. Assistant principal Céline Tassé said the school was still waiting to hear instruction from FrancoSud.
“We know it’s a reality. We have to talk about it. It’s so important,” she said. “We haven’t talked about it altogether, with all the principals and all the team.”
Of the 13 FrancoSud schools in southern Alberta, nine schools are public and four are Catholic.
“We have to do more,” Tassé said. “But we have a lot of religion (in FrancoSud). That’s a tough thing.”
