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School District 48 is moving forward with adding those who identify as LGBTQIA2S+ to their special program for preferential hiring, which was approved by the Human Rights Commissioner.

“Our district was one of the first districts to recognize that the representation of our workforce did not reflect the diversity of the kids in our schools,” said superintendent Chris Nicholson on Nov. 9 at the first meeting of the newly elected school trustees.

According to a letter sent to SD48 from Human Rights Commissioner Kasari Govender, in April 2022, SD48 received a special program designation “for preferential hiring of candidates who self-identify as Indigenous, a member of a visible minority or a person with a disability” for all school district positions until the proportion of employees mirrors proportions of the population determined by the census data.

Near the beginning of the school year, the school board requested an amendment to include those who identify as LGBTQIA2S+ to the designation. This request came after an anonymous survey filled out by SD48 staff that showed the LGBTQIA2s+ members were underrepresented in the employees compared to the general population.

“It's really indicative of our belief and of our understandings that diversity is a strength,” said Nicholson. “Our children need to see themselves represented in those that work in the district.”

Govender wrote that SD48 showed that about 1% identified as LGBTQIA2S+, which is below the 2018 Statistics Canada estimate of 4% of those aged 15 and above.

The program will continue until its expiry on April 12, 2027.

SD48 must provide a mid-term progress report by Sept. 30, 2024, and a final report by the expiry date.

ߣÄÌÉçÇø2023 dry grad plan

Also covered at the meeting was the Howe Sound Secondary dry grad plan, which was approved by the school board.

Dry grad committee members Jennifer Cameron and Kelly Banna presented the plan, which was similar to past plans.

Cameron said so far, the event is planned to occur at the Railway Museum of B.C. and will have a prohibition of all drugs and alcohol for both students and parent volunteers with various ways they plan to enforce that.

Moreover, the plan outline reads that it is estimated to cost similar to last year’s event, which was $200 per student. However, the dry grad committee and Howe Sound Secondary will ensure all students can attend regardless of their ability to pay.

This school board meeting was the first for trustees April Lowe, Lisa Turpin and Melissa Ronayne and a return to post for trustees Celeste Bickford, Cynthia Higgins, Rachael Lythe and Rebecca Barley.

At an earlier Committee of the Whole meeting, Barley was elected chair of the board and Higgins was elected as vice chair for the next year.