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Decisions at a local level

Sask. school divisions told to develop change room policies; Pride groups ‘cautiously optimistic’

Jan 23, 2025 | 5:00 PM

The provincial government has directed school divisions across Saskatchewan to develop and implement policies on change room use.

The Ministry of Education announced Thursday the policies will be administrative documents used by staff at schools when dealing with issues around privacy and safety.

The province’s school divisions are expected to develop the policies in consultation with both students and parents.

“All divisions must ensure that by June 30, 2025, their policy is publicly available on their website and clearly communicated to staff, parents, students and members of the public to maintain a sufficient level of transparency across the province,” the ministry said in a statement.

Andromeda Eremondi, chair of the Prince Albert Pride executive board said they are thankful the Government of Saskatchewan chose to consult school divisions rather than the blanket legislation that was Bill 137.

“It gives every Pride organization in the province a fighting chance to make our case and ensure that school boards can make policies that are inclusive rather than exclusionary.”

Andromeda Eremondi, chair of the Prince Albert Pride executive board. (Submitted photo)

Eremondi said it would also help signal which school divisions are safe for 2SLGBTQ+ youth, which can ‘hopefully help kids and parents determine where best to attend school to feel respected and supported.’

Everett Hindley, Saskatchewan’s education minister, said the government’s goal is to ensure the privacy, dignity and comfort of all students is respected.

“It is also important for parents/guardians to be aware of the steps being taken to ensure the comfort and safety of all students,” Hindley said in a statement.

“Through our consultations, many school divisions informed us that they are in the best position to make these decisions at a local level.”

The implementation of change room policies in Saskatchewan schools was raised during the 2024 provincial election campaign when Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe promised that his government would implement a policy barring biologically male students from using the girl’s change rooms in schools, and vice versa.

The proposed policy was roundly criticized by LGBT advocates and the Saskatchewan NDP.

The secretary of Battleford and Area Pride, Kelly Waters, is a teacher by trade. She said she’s still scratching her head as to why the government even made itself involved in the first place.

“These are kids who already avoid going to gym class because they don’t know where they fit in and this is not going to help. Sure, there needs to be neutral spaces and schools need to determine those things, but that’s not new and I think a lot of schools already do things like that,” Waters said.

“I certainly hope this isn’t just about the comfort of the people who have a problem with nonbinary, transgender, nonconforming students.”

After the election – which saw Moe re-elected as premier with a majority government, despite major gains by the NDP – the premier stepped back from his promise, saying he had spoken too hastily during the campaign.

In November, Moe said he would instead direct the minister of education to consult with the province’s 27 school division chairs and work towards implementing some form of change room policies.

Eremondi and Waters both said Pride groups will work with allies on school boards and are cautiously optimistic about the process. Ultimately, they hope the policies create spaces or private changerooms specifically for trans and gender-nonconforming youth to keep them safe, as well as 2SLGBTQ+ youth in general.

-With files from CKOM

panews@pattisonmedia.com

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