BENTONVILLE -- Word of a possible policy change to broaden protections against discrimination of School District employees attracted a large crowd at Monday's School Board meeting, with many in the audience urging board members to forgo the change.
The change, first discussed at the board's last meeting two weeks ago, had been suggested by board member Grant Lightle. He asked for consideration of a policy to extend discrimination protection to sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as marital and parental status and veterans.
Next meetings
The Bentonville School Board is scheduled to meet for a work session at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the district Administration Building. The next regular meeting after that is a pre-agenda meeting at 5:30 p.m. May 4.
Source: Staff report
The district's current policy protects employees from discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender, national origin, age, and disability.
The suggested change would bring the district's policy in line with the University of Arkansas and other major employers, Lightle said. There was a brief discussion before board members agreed to ask Superintendent Michael Poore to come up with a draft policy for the board to review.
The American Family Association issued a statement last week condemning the idea, under the headline "New rights for flagrantly homosexual coaches and teachers in Bentonville." The association asked people to attend Monday's board meeting and speak out against the change.
"Having Miss Linda tell her third grade class she married Mr. Bob over Christmas break and now has a new last name is not the same as Coach Jones announcing to the football team that he went to Massachusetts over Spring Break and married his husband Bruce," the association's statement read. "Under the proposed policy change the District would have to allow Coach Jones to make that announcement."
Eighteen audience members addressed the issue during time allotted for public comment at Monday's meeting. Fifteen spoke against it.
Among them was Duncan Campbell, who led an effort last year to repeal a Fayetteville city ordinance that would have prohibited local acts of discrimination in employment, housing and places of public accommodation on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and a number of other characteristics not contained in state or federal law.
There is no evidence supporting the need for the kind of change the district is considering, Campbell said. Further pursuit of the policy change would divide the city, he warned.
"Don't fix a problem that doesn't exist," Campbell said. "This policy change would indicate approval and an endorsement of a lifestyle many people living in Bentonville don't believe in."
Lisa Richards said she feared a new policy would "silence the faith community" which is generous in the time and money it gives to causes associated with the district. She also asked board members to consider the difference between those who identify as transgender and cross-dressers, who simply enjoy dressing up as the opposite sex.
"Who's going to investigate whether they're transgender or a crossdresser?" Richards said.
Audience member Ron Branscum said a discrimination policy is meant to protect people for the things about themselves they cannot change. Sexual orientation is a choice one makes, he said.
Donna Hutchinson, a former state representative from Bella Vista, said the gay lifestyle is unhealthy and gay men contract cancer at a rate 13 times higher than heterosexuals.
"You may have the best motives, but if you encourage them to stay in an unhealthy lifestyle, you're not encouraging them at all," Hutchinson said.
A few, however, spoke in favor of the policy change. They included Gretchen Bellamy, an attorney in charge of diversity and inclusion for Wal-Mart.
Bellamy said she appreciated Lightle and the University of Arkansas for the stances they've taken. Bellamy and Lightle are co-workers at Wal-Mart.
"As a community we need to be inclusive of all differences whether they're under protected status or not," Bellamy said. "The world's largest company ... has become what it is because of diversity."
After public comments, board member Rebecca Powers made a motion to direct Poore to halt proceedings toward a new policy, insisting the public had made their feelings clear.
"I can't sit here and say I want my administration to pursue something I already know our constituents don't want," Powers said.
Some other board members said they were uncomfortable with Powers' proposal because the item hadn't been put on the agenda for Monday's meeting. Matt Burgess, a board member, said he'd talked to numerous people who supported the idea but weren't able to attend the meeting.
Powers' motion ultimately failed in a 4-2 vote against it. Powers and Brent Leas voted for it. Burgess, Lightle, Wendi Cheatham and Willie Cowgur voted against it. Board president Travis Riggs was absent.
The controversy comes on the heels of recent debates within Arkansas and elsewhere in the country pitting religious freedom against the civil rights of homosexuals.
During a break in Monday's meeting, Burgess said he'd received dozens of email messages and some phone calls about the issue since Friday.
Poore said he's in the process of researching and collecting sample employment discrimination policies from elsewhere to bring to the board for their consideration. He has promised to make the issue an item on the board's next agenda meeting, which will be May 4.
He said he wasn't aware of any other school district in Arkansas that applies the kind of protections Lightle has suggested.
Dave Perozek can be reached at dperozek@nwadg.com or on Twitter @NWADaveP.
NW News on 04/21/2015