Policies on subs, transgender students under review

The Grand Coulee Dam School District is considering policies related to transgender students, as well as substitute teacher qualifications.

School board members were presented with the proposed policies at the Sept. 24 board meeting.

The transgender policy addresses concerns such as communicating with a student on what their gender identification is and how they wish to be addressed, and addresses related consideration regarding the dress code, preventing bullying or discrimination of students, and not forcing students to use a restroom that is inconsistent with their gender identity.

The policy is written to be consistent with local, state, and federal laws concerning discrimination.

The substitute teach qualification policy is geared toward loosening the qualifications for emergency substitutes, or substitutes who can fill in when fully qualified subs are unavailable.

“Emergency substitutes must have an AA degree, Journeyman Certified and/or taken enough college credits equal to or more than required for an AA degree,” the proposed policy reads. “Substitutes holding emergency certification may only be assigned work when the list of fully-qualified substitutes is exhausted.”

The next school board meeting is scheduled for Oct. 8, but the agenda is not yet set for that meeting.