Mission Public School District is reviewing and updating multiple policies.
The reviews include its Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity policy, Records Management policy, and Intoxicating, Banned, or Controlled Substances policy.
The Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity policy was updated to include appropriate language and presented to trustees at a committee of the whole meeting on Oct. 1. It was originally approved in 2014 as the Sexual Minority (Sexual Orientation/ Gender Identity) Anti-Homophobic policy.
Mission Public School District board chair Tracy Loffler says the policy remains largely unchanged and highlights the belief in supporting human rights legislation.
“I think we can all agree that a lot has changed since that time, and so this was essentially reviewing, reformatting and updating to include appropriate language considering the school district's work on creating safe and inclusive learning and work environments,” Loffler said.
The Intoxicating, Banned, or Controlled Substances policy was updated to consider the legalization of cannabis and the joint use agreement with the City of Mission for the Clarke Theatre.
Meanwhile, trustees also received a draft of a new records management policy to provide oversight and direction to staff for good processes.
Public engagement is also on the horizon for the policies.
First, the policy will receive feedback from the Siwal Si’wes Policy Advisory Working Group before returning to trustees at a Committee of the Whole meeting and later a Board of Education meeting to approve in principle.
They will then be sent to the public, employees, and educational community for more feedback before the policies return to the board for final approval.
