Tuesday, July 9, 1996

* One School Board member says the proposal reaffirms a non-discrimination commitment and assures a safe school environment.

By Kathy A. Bolten, Register Staff Writer

The Des Moines school board hopes to end several weeks of controversy tonight when it votes on a resolution that defines the term "sexual orientation" in its anti-discrimination hiring policy.

The board is expected to approve a resolution that defines sexual orientation as "homosexuality, bisexuality, lesbianism and heterosexuality." The definition comes from the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision Romer vs. Evans.

The resolution also emphasizes that the district's hiring policies don't protect illegal acts that would threaten students or staff and don't discriminate.

This spring, Concerned Parents of Des Moines asked the board to delete the term "sexual orientation" from the district's hiring policy. The group felt the term gave special rights to homosexuals.

Another group, Concerned students of Des Moines with the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, asked that the policy be left alone.

CLARIFICATION SOUGHT

School board member Harold Sandahl, who has wanted to define "sexual orientation" in hiring policy, said the proposed resolution "will help clarify this issue."

The sexual orientation definition will be placed in the district's Administrative Procedures Code, which explains how administrators carry out board policies.

"I wanted to make sure we put the definition in our policy guide or procedures code so it would be remembered," Sandahl said. "If we just adopted a resolution and did nothing else, it would probably sit on a shelf and no one would remember it. This way it will be (in the manual) for people to see.:

Last month, Sandahl suggested using language from the Americans with Disabilities Act in the hiring policy. He thought that adding wording from the federal law to the policy would assure parents of the district's intent to protect youngsters and that it would better define the term "sexual orientation."

That proposal would have banned the hiring of transvestites, pedophiles and others with sexual disorders. However, few other board members supported Sandahl's proposal. Also, few citizens who addressed the board on the issue supported the move.

Board member Laura Sands said she hopes the resolution "satisfies both groups. It reaffirms the district's commitment to non-discrimination and it assures people that we provide a safe environment for students and staff."

Sands and Sandahl, both members of a board policy committee, met several times to work through the language of the resolution. Both got comments from Concerned Parents and the Interfaith Alliance.

The two also asked the district's attorney to review the resolution.

Bruce Tillotson, chairman of Concerned Parents of Des Moines, couldn't be reached for comment.

LISTENING TO PUBLIC

Alicia Claypool of the Interfaith Alliance said the resolution "looks fine. The board was willing to listen to the public. They came up with an alternative solution that affirms the current policy but also has an explanation to parents' concerns about their children's safety. It does provide a definition of sexual orientation. ... I hope it passes."

Paul Mann, president of the Des Moines Education Association, also praised the resolution. "It makes it clear that the district doesn't extend protection to illegal acts, but it also reaffirms the district's policy for non-discrimination."

--------------------------------

--------------------------------