- April 19, 2024
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by: Anita Burnette, District 3 Volusia County School Board member
Following [the March 9] School Board meeting, I have received numerous calls and emails asking me to clarify my position on a resolution brought before the Board. First, I want to state unequivocally that I am an ally of the LGBTQ+ community, and that I stand staunchly against discrimination of any kind in Volusia Schools.
I want to be clear that I believe the urgent issue of LGBTQ+ discrimination in our schools deserves a strong response based on policy, not just sentiment. I could not in good conscience support a resolution that relegated such an important issue to spring break when students would not be in school. The resolution dismissed the values of inclusion that it allegedly represented. We cannot keep passing toothless statements of support instead of tackling the very real problems our LGBTQ+ students are facing.
LGBTQ+ students face higher rates of bullying, harassment, and violence. They experience higher rates of mental illness and, tragically, self-harm. These issues exist in schools all across this country, and Volusia Schools is unfortunately no different. Near the end of the meeting, I personally asked Superintendent Fritz to work with me on formulating a strong policy on LGBTQ+ student protections. There is no time like now to get to work. GLSEN has some amazing resources that we as a district should adopt to ensure every student has a meaningful education and the LGBTQ+ community has a home. This means having educator training sessions, strong anti-harassment policies, and mental health resources that emphasize the needs of the LGBTQ+ community.
I campaigned on changing Volusia Schools for the better, and that is what I intend to do. I look forward to working with my fellow board members, district staff, and community members to advance the cause of equality, inclusion, and anti-discrimination.
