FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Westminster - The Westminster Teachers Association (WTA) yesterday overwhelmingly condemned the failure of three members of the Westminster School District Board of Trustees to adopt a uniform complaint policy that complies with state law by protecting students and staff from harassment based on gender orientation. The board majority has refused to adopt language that would prohibit such discrimination.
Westminster School District (WSD) stands to lose up to $40 million dollars in state and federal funding based on the board majority's refusal to comply with the law. WSD gets approximately two-thirds of its funding from state and federal sources.
"These board members have placed their own personal biases and beliefs above the education and safety of the students they were elected to protect," said WTA President Janet Brubaker. "It's a terrible example for students and it is grossly irresponsible to kids and the community."
WTA has called on the board to comply with the law and to protect the education and safety of all students. WTA leadership will speak to the board members on the issue at the April 1 school board meeting.
It is believed that Westminster is the only district in the state to disregard the law in this manner.
"We can't have individual board members deciding that their personal beliefs are more important than the law and more important that our students' education," said Brubaker. "If they want to change the law to suit their views through proper legislative channels they are welcome to try, but to just break the law because they happen to disagree is completely wrong."