Throughout the day we have reported on a February 2018 report from the University of Iowa’s Public Policy Center and its recommendations for the Iowa City Community School District.
According to a document available online, the district is in the process of implementing the recommendations of the 2018 LGBTQ multi-stakeholder 2018 task force.
The district provided transportation to more than 90 students to the 14th annual LGBTQ Youth Governor’s conference in Des Moines, hosted by GLBT Youth In Iowa Schools Task Force (Iowa Safe Schools).
The district has included all gay-straight alliance groups on its school website.
Additionally, the district has increased the amount of LGBTQ materials in library collections.
Safe Zone Phase I training has been given to 30 staff members. The district has created gender-neutral restrooms and “improved inclusivity of homecoming court.”
The board issued a policy statement just two months after the recommendations were given and an LGBTQ tab was added to the Equity Department website.
Efforts still in progress are building connections with larger LGBTQ organizations, offering classes on LGBTQ history or race, class and gender, student-led workshops and ensuring authentic names/pronouns are reflected in school records.
The “next step,” it says, is an inclusive curriculum and health education.
