Edmonton Catholic school board defends actions with transgender student

The Edmonton Catholic school board is on the defensive after last week's explosiveboard meeting erupted into arguments overa new inclusivity policy, including whethertransgenderstudents can usewashrooms of their choice in the city's Catholic schools.

On Monday, board chairDebbie Engeloutlined howCatholic schools have worked with the family of a transgenderstudentat the centre of the controversy, which began last spring shortly afterthe child made aformal transition from boy to girl.

Engel read from a prepared statement, saying "clarification needs to be given to the public on how the school is meeting the needs of the transgender girl."

She listed what the board and school havedone, including how the staff has cooperated by referringto the elementary student by her chosen name andundergonesensitivity training.

Aboard policy for dealing with transgender studentshasn't yet been approved. But Engelsaid moving ahead with oneis "still extremely important," a commentthat appeared to be aimed atreassuringAlberta's education minister that the board isworking on a policy.

Engel said she told Education Minister David Eggen there is the"will on the board to come to a consensus with a stand-alone transgenderpolicy" at a board meeting inOctober.

After theSept. 16 board meetingon the transgender issue triggered heated arguments,Eggen threatened to intervene and dissove the board if necessary. But hesaid he would wait until seeing a draft inclusivitypolicy for transgender students.

• Education minister tells Catholic board to pass transgender policy

Engelissued an apologyMonday for the behaviour of the trustees at last week's meeting.

"I'm very sorry about the behaviour of all trustees, including myself, because tempers were hot,"Engelsaid.

But Engel read a letter written by the teacher who taught the transgender child last school year.

The letteremphasizedhow the girlwas given the option to use one of the two all-gender bathrooms at the school, andby the end of the school year the child used the girls' bathroom.

"The principal did everything in her power to ensure we as a staff were educated on this changeby bringing in counsellors, psychologists, our priest and many more beneficial people," the letter stated.

"Nothing but love and acceptance was shown here at our school."

The name of the letter'sauthoris not included nor is the date.

Letter comes after tense, emotional meeting

Just prior tolast week's board meeting, trustee Larry Kowalczyk said transgender students should be considered as having a mental illness. His comments provoked outrage online and from some of his fellow trustees.

• Transgender students have 'mental disorder,' Edmonton Catholic school trustee says

Kowalczyk said he would not support a policy that would allow students to use the washroom designated differently from the gender they were born with.

Instead, he would support a policy crafted by the Edmonton Archdiocese, which would encourage Catholic schools to set up gender-neutral washrooms available toall students.

At the Sept. 16 meeting, trustees voted 5-2 to defer adecision on what they're calling an "nclusive community policy" for the city's Catholic schools.