WRDSB trustees to talk sex ed curriculum at special meeting Monday
Posted Aug 20, 2018 05:30:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Trustees with the Waterloo Region District School Board will be meeting Monday night to go over the numerous changes made by the Ford government surrounding schools this summer.
This including changes to the sex education portion of the Health and Physical Education curriculum.
Board Chair Scott McMillan says the meeting is all about creating a unified voice on some major issues facing students and teachers this year.
He says tonight will be a great opportunity to hear from staff and find out what they have been hearing from the province.
“There was a little bit more urgency, and I think there was a need for us to make a public statement that we were taking this a little bit more seriously than things that have happened in the past.”
In July, a joint statement was issued by Board Chair Scott McMillan and Director of Education John Bryant saying it is, “critical that the curriculum provided in the classroom reflects our current times and the identities of our students, families and community.”
“There needs to be a formal direction from the Ministry for our staff in order to move forward so we're interested to hear an update from staff to see what communication has happened between the Ministry and staff, that is a big opportunity of tonight's (Monday's) meeting.”
McMillan adds the Ministry sets the curriculum, which they will deliver, however he says they will also continue to provide safe places for their students such as providing gender neutral bathrooms or raising the pride flag.
Funding cuts to school repairs will also be discussed Monday.
The provincial $100-million fund for school repairs got axed earlier this year as part of the Tory government's plan to scrap the province's cap and trade program.
