Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Students at a West Des Moines high school are asking the school board to extend its nondiscrimination policy to those who rent the school district's facilities after a local Catholic high school decided not to hire a gay substitute teacher full time.
Valley High School students presented a petition Monday to revise policy to require renters to sign an agreement saying they would abide by the district's policy regarding protection for sexual orientation and gender identity, according to a report. The petition, which seeks to close the loophole in the district's nondiscrimination policy, was signed by nearly 230 students and community members.
The Des Moines Register (http://dmreg.co/1Kq0GVr ) reports that the petition comes on the heels of criticism officials at Dowling Catholic High School have received for opting not to hire a substitute teacher full time after learning he was gay.
"Rather than engaging in petty mudslinging, we should use this opportunity to examine how our school district can improve," Valley junior Danielle Reyes said during a West Des Moines School District board meeting.
Dowling Catholic High School has a long-standing agreement with the district to use its football field, and some believe an amendment to the nondiscrimination policy would jeopardize that relationship.
"We are very sorry that Dowling possibly would not be able to use our facilities" if the policy is revised, said Valley student Maggie Wildermuth, a member of the school's gay-straight alliance. "But until there's change, we feel that they should be held to that because of the beliefs of our school district."
Dr. Jerry Deegan, President of Dowling Catholic High School, said Valley officials have been gracious hosts over the years and his school looks forward to working with them in the future.
Some school board members expressed interest in reviewing the policy during the meeting. Board member H. Milton Cole-Duvall commended the students for their actions and said they are "on the right side of history."
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
