Buena Vista School District (BVSD) safety-themed student survey results. This graph shows results for the most recent semester, Spring 2023. Image courtesy of SCAPBVSchools.com.
On Monday, February 26th, two parents represented their daughters in the Buena Vista School District (BVSD) during a public appearance at a normally uneventful Buena Vista Board of Education B (OE) meeting. spoke out about the treatment of LGBTQIA+ students. )
Heather and Ryan McFadden stood up to speak and encouraged the board to review and ensure compliance with the district's policies when discussing controversial topics, anti-bullying, and non-discrimination policies that protect LGBTQIA+ students. did(For those who are not familiar with abbreviations, See definition near the end of this article. )
Heather McFadden spoke first. Although she is employed by BVSD as a school psychologist, it was clear that she was speaking to the board as a parent and not as an employee. First, Heather said she and her husband want to follow up on the board's review of the S-CAP survey results, which track how safe students feel in the school environment. her purpose. Add important information to the conversation.
According to Spring 2023 student survey results, just over 47 percent of students agree (34 percent) or strongly agree (13 percent) with the statement, “Students at my school respect and help each other.” . Just over 41 percent disagree (26 percent) or strongly disagree (15 percent) with that statement. The remaining students answered, “I don't know.”
However, nearly 35 percent of students disagreed, strongly disagreed, or were unsure how they felt about the statement, “I always feel safe at school,” and nearly 34 percent disagreed with the statement. or answered uncertain. It's like I belong to the school I'm currently attending. ”
Buena Vista School District (BVSD) safety-themed student survey results. This graph displays all available results from the 2018/2019 academic year to the 2022/2023 academic year. Image courtesy of SCAPBVSchools.com.
Historical S-CAP data starting with the 2018/2019 academic year shows similar results, although in the past there was a “neutral” response option, and in 2018 students felt they belonged. Only questions were asked.
McFadden said her daughter is a member of the LGBTQ+ community, a senior, an honor student with a high GPA, a position in the National Honor Society, and will graduate with a stamp of distinction. He explained. “She's a great girl,” Heather said.
McFadden went on to explain that her daughter was asked by her teachers to speak to board members. “She said she didn't feel safe. Schools can be hostile to LGBTQ students, and she was bullied, continued to be bullied, and bullied other students.” “She has been witnessed and reported to authorities over the years. She filled out the required bullying forms. She did what she had to do,” Heather said.
But McFadden added of his daughter's experience: She asked if she could stay and we felt she was brave enough so she felt it was our turn. ”
After she shared, her classmates argued that the topic itself was political and should not be allowed. The board member, whose name the McFaddens did not provide, effectively ended the conversation by deferring to other students and agreeing that politics should not be discussed.
“The safety of LGBTQ students is not political,” McFadden said. “So we should be concerned because these young people are often afraid and stressed about coming to school. They face physical harassment, they face verbal harassment, and they face physical harassment and verbal harassment. They often drop out of school.'' She cited the fact that LGBTQ+ youth often have higher rates of absenteeism, depression, anxiety, and suicide attempts due to these experiences.
Lessons from the country of Oklahoma
Nex Benedict. Image courtesy of Maria Pira, Associated Press.
In recent news, a double-minded non-binary teenager from Owasso, Oklahoma, died after a fight with bullies in a school bathroom.
Nex Benedict walked away from the confrontation at the school but died the next day. Oklahoma State Police say Nex did not die from injuries sustained in the fight, but the cause of death has not been determined.
Calls from Oklahoma to Rainbow Youth Project USA, a crisis hotline for LGBTQ+ youth, have increased by more than 500% since their deaths.
TIME reported, “According to data shared with TIME, the organization received 522 calls between February 16 and February 23, compared to the 87 calls it normally receives per week. I've come,” he wrote. About 70% of calls cited news from Owasso as the reason for their distress. Additionally, 85% said they faced bullying at school or on social media. ”
These tragedies compound the stress that LGBTQ+ students face. According to a 2023 national survey by The Trevor Project, 41 percent of LGBTQ+ youth report seriously considering suicide, with transgender, nonbinary, and people of color reporting higher rates. Transgender and nonbinary youth whose families respected their pronouns reported lower rates of stress.
“Less than 40 percent of LGBTQ youth feel like their families are LGBTQ-affirming, and the majority of LGBTQ youth report being verbally harassed at school because others think they are LGBTQ.” ,” the Trevor Project study reported.
“Nearly half of transgender and non-binary youth felt their school was gender affirming, and those who did so reported lower rates of suicide attempts.” “These findings highlight the critical need for education and training for individuals, families, and institutions on how to create supportive environments for LGBTQ youth.”
“Our daughter will be fine. She's a senior. She got accepted to college,” McFadden said. “We have provided her with her network of support, and she is here to support other students who may not have the same courage or ability to speak their truth as we do.”
Ryan McFadden spoke next and focused his time on school policy and actions the board and district should take. He encouraged the board to take a more scientific approach to data collection.
“I think we need to be scientific. We need to be anonymous to provide more accurate data,” he said. “Rather than setting up colleagues, we use an approach that discourages differing views and engagement and records data, because this data is ignored in tonight's report.”
He encouraged the board to improve compliance and follow the school's policy of IMB education on controversial/sensitive issues. He read the policy itself directly. “Democratic living is not without controversy. It is therefore essential that the study and discussion of controversial issues have a prominent place in citizenship education in a free society. Only through the process of considering different points of view can we develop into free citizens, informed and loyal to our democracy.”
He then encouraged the Board to improve compliance with the JICDE Bullying Prevention and Education Policy, which he cited again.
“The Board of Education supports a safe and positive school environment conducive to teaching and learning that is free from intimidation, harassment, and bullying behavior of any kind. Bullying is prohibited against students for any reason. “This includes, but is not limited to, conduct that impairs a student's academic performance, or their disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or Directed to students on any basis protected by federal and state law, including expression. ”
Mr McFadden then encouraged schools to improve their compliance with AC non-discrimination/equal opportunity policies. Once again, he read directly from the text: “The school district is committed to providing a safe learning and working environment in which all members of the school community are treated with dignity and respect… regardless of disability, race, creed, color, or sex. , prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.”
McFadden said harassment prevention and remediation are essential to a safe environment, that employees who witness discrimination should take “immediate and effective action to stop it,” and that those who engage in discrimination should be brought to the district. It emphasized the district's statement in this policy that it should be disciplined according to its own policies. .
Finally, Mr. McFadden encouraged the board to follow and adopt recommendations from the CDC and school board aimed at improving the lives of all students, including professional development on inclusivity and implementation of anti-harassment policies. .
“The data is here, and I ask you to have the courage to face this problem, embrace it, and improve our district,” he concluded.
Response in Buena Vista area
Buena Vista School District logo courtesy of bvschools.org
voice of ark valley contacted BVSD Superintendent Lisa Yates to request the district's comment regarding the McFaddens' public participation. Yates explained that the board hasn't had time to discuss it yet.
“I know that the board considers public comments in evaluating the district’s progress in meeting its ENDS goals and is eager to respond,” Yates said.
“Specifically, the comments submitted Monday evening emphasize the district's goal that all students have the ability to build relationships, proactively resolve conflicts, and contribute to their communities, and the school district's goal that all students have the ability to build relationships, actively resolve conflicts, and contribute to their communities, and the commitment of students to their schools. It will be relevant to your goals of being proud and inspired” experience. We will take the time to consider your specific claim. BV School is committed to maintaining a learning environment where all students are respected and dignified,” Yates added.
“In terms of resources, our career counseling office has several community resources available to students seeking additional mental health and peer support. These include The Alliance, Solvista. [Health], Colorado Crisis Services. When asked about the district’s resources available to support students in the LGBTQIA+ community, Yates added:
During the board's evaluation at the end of the meeting, Board Vice President Brett Mitchell suggested that a discussion of school policies related to this topic be made an action item at a later meeting.
“I would like them to reconsider what they just heard during public comment,” Mitchell said. “Where we're going, what our discriminatory policies are, how we're addressing the issues we're hearing, and what we can do to be a better place.” Please look at it.”
Board member Mallory Brooks spoke directly to Heather and Ryan McFadden and asked them to send a digital copy of their comments so they wouldn't miss any important details. Mr Brooks also confirmed that this discussion will be marked as an action item.
For those unfamiliar with the acronym, LGBTQIA+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, and asexual. The final “plus” covers others who may identify with the community but are not included in the overall acronym, such as pansexual, two-spirit, non-binary, demisexual, aromantic, agender, etc. means. San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus provides a more detailed breakdown of the history of these letters. This acronym is often shortened to LGBT or LGBTQ+.
Local organization Partnership for Community Action (PfCA) offers a variety of resources to support LGBTQIA+ youth and their families. For more information about the organization, including community events and resources, visit GoPfCA.com.
