MPR’s Tom Weber reports that by a 5-1 margin, the Anoka-Hennepin school board voted to revoke its so-called 'neutrality policy,' which required teachers to remain neutral when issues of sexual orientation come up in the classroom.
Critics said the policy was vague and left teachers and staff confused as to whether they could talk to students, especially gay and lesbian students, in certain situations.
SPEAKER 1: A controversial policy that brought national and international attention to Minnesota's largest school district is no more. The Anoka-Hennepin school board voted last night to revoke the so-called neutrality policy, which requires teachers to remain neutral when issues of sexual orientation come up in the classroom. While district leaders say their move was not related to legal action, getting rid of the neutrality policy was a major demand in two pending federal lawsuits. Tom Weber has our story.
TOM WEBER: Critics say Anoka-Hennepin's neutrality policy was vague and left teachers and staff confused as to whether they could talk to students, especially gay and lesbian students, in certain situations. In July, two national civil rights groups sued on behalf of several students. The National Center for Lesbian Rights and the Southern Poverty Law Center claimed the students were harassed for their sexual orientation. A key demand was that the policy be repealed.
SPEAKER 2: Hearing none, all those in favor, signify by saying aye.
ALL: Aye.
SPEAKER 2: Opposed same sign.
SPEAKER 3: No.
SPEAKER 2: Motion carries.
TOM WEBER: Monday night's 5 to 1 vote did just that. The neutrality policy no longer exists in Anoka-Hennepin. In its place, the board approved what's called the respectful learning environment policy.
The new language says teachers should not try to persuade students to accept or reject any viewpoint when contentious topics come up. It also says staff should affirm the dignity and self-worth of all students. Board member Scott Wenzel says he hopes the vote would move the community forward. Board member Kathy Tingelstad was the only no vote.
KATHY TINGELSTAD: I think we were being pushed by outside influences that were outside of our school district. And I know we're setting some national standards here tonight, and I'm disappointed that we couldn't have done a better job.
TOM WEBER: Tingelstad wouldn't identify those outside influences. From the moment in December when the district first proposed dropping the neutrality policy, administrators said the lawsuit was not the reason. Superintendent Dennis Carlson reiterated that after last night's vote.
DENNIS CARLSON: The board wanted to do this on their own time, on their own terms. That's why it's taken as long as it has.
TOM WEBER: But Laurie Thompson, with a group called the parents action league, wasn't buying it.
LAURIE THOMPSON: If this lawsuit hadn't been filed, this change in policy never would have been initiated. That's just my feeling.
TOM WEBER: Thompson was among more than two dozen people who made final pitches to the board before the vote. She and others argued the sexual orientation policy should stay fearing the freedom gay activists would otherwise have to influence students.
LAURIE THOMPSON: The board is very confident that this new policy will keep the homosexual agenda out of the classrooms, but I'm not so sure about that.
TOM WEBER: Meanwhile, supporters of gay and lesbian students say the neutrality policy had to go because it was contributing to a hostile environment in which six students in the district had committed suicide in less than two years. Some of those students were gay, and at least one parent said her son was bullied for being gay. The district has said its internal investigation found no evidence that bullying contributed to the deaths. 17-year-old Andover high school senior Macky Barnette, who was raised by a lesbian couple, told the board she knew one of the students who died.
MACKY BARNETTE: What do gay people want That's so different from what straight people want. They just want to be happy and live a normal lifestyle, like we do. I don't understand how my parents and my friends at school can be so discriminated against.
TOM WEBER: Several groups, including the district's teachers union, argued there was no need to enact a new policy to replace the old one, but they nonetheless supported the new language. The union added the challenge is only starting, saying it will be crucial that the policy is implemented in a way that avoids further confusion. The Southern Poverty Law Center and National Center for Lesbian Rights both applauded the demise of the very policy they sued to have removed. In a statement, the groups added they were pleased the new policy requires all students be affirmed, but they also said they'd have preferred the district not replace the neutrality policy with anything.
Still, that last point might very well end up moot, at least in terms of the lawsuit. The suit only asks for the neutrality policy's removal. It's silent on whether it should be replaced. Another round of settlement talks between the district and plaintiffs is scheduled for March 1 and 2. Tom Weber, Minnesota Public Radio News, Coon Rapids.
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