- April 20, 2024
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After a failed resolution, Volusia County Schools brought back the LGBTQ+ Health Awareness Week issue at the March 30 School Board meeting, this time not as a board action item, but as a district recognition.
The district decided the week of April 5-9 would be designated to support inclusion and diversity for all students, particularly those who identify with the LGBTQ community. There are no planned student activities and no curriculum associated with the week, but VCS Superintendent Scott Fritz said the district is committed to building an inclusive environment for all students.
“Our district is devoted to continued and having an open dialogue in advocacy for all of our students of diverse populations," Fritz said. "We publicly support all these groups. We want to acknowledge their vulnerability while at the same time, highlight their intrinsic values and contributions to our schools and community.”
Rose Roland, assistant superintendent for student services outlined the measures the district is taking to support LGTBQ students, including the creation of a support guide, attendance at a virtual conference sponsored by Equity Florida (an LGBTQ civil rights organization), and the training principals receive every year to be able to support students' diverse needs.
“Our goal is that every action and speech of our students, teachers and administrations, should and would be inclusive and model non-discriminatory efforts," Roland said.
At the board's meeting on March 9, a resolution to bring awareness to LGBTQ health in Volusia County Schools died for lack of support, inciting backlash from the community when board members expressed they felt the topic of sexual orientation was best discussed at home.
At the March 30 meeting, board members had a change of heart. School Board Member Ruben Colon said the context provided by Roland is what was missing in the March 9 resolution. He said the resolution was a missed opportunity to highlight statistics on LGBTQ suicide, depression and discrimination.
“Last week, I met with a group of folks and they shared the things that I said that were hurtful — that served as a dagger potentially to our students," Colon said. "I didn’t know. I didn’t recognize that, and I’m sorry for those that I offended because that was not my intent.”
Not everyone was pleased by the LGBTQ recognition. Parent Tera McNaughton said if addressing bullying was a motivating factor, then the board shouldn't single out one group of students.
“I don’t understand how this rolled out today," McNaughton said. "I am requesting that you be more inclusive.”
In contrast, two students spoke up for the LGBTQ community and asked the district go beyond an awareness week designation. Seabreeze High School student Jonathan Weinrich said the recognition was a good step, but now the district must take further action and asked more trained counselors be added to schools.
Alexander Vargas, a 17-year-old student, asked the district add an LGBTQ+ awareness week that teaches the history of the community's struggle and referenced belittling comments made by parents at the March 9 meeting.
“I’m a student," Vargas said. "A child. Yet I get called perverse by people who stood in this very room while others stood by and said nothing. I’m a child, yet I get compared to a pedophile because of my transness, my gayness. Parts of me that hurt no one...I don’t choose to sit in class and have people debate if I should have rights. I don’t choose to fear simply going to the bathroom, but I have grown used to it.”
