Saugus updates non-discrimination policy

SAUGUS – The Saugus School Committee took its first step toward overhauling its non-discrimination policy Thursday night, with a first reading of the new state-mandated changes from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees.The new policy adds gender identity to the list of groups that cannot be discriminated against, combines the harassment policy for both students and employees, and replaces the word “gender” with the word “sex.”According to the policy, “No person shall be excluded from or discriminated against in admission to a public school of any town or in obtaining the advantages, privileges and courses of study of such public school on account of race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or disability.”?This is a change that has been directed to us based on a change in state law,” said School Committee member Frederick Doucette. “The state determines what groups are protected from discrimination.”The change also updates the committee?s harassment policy to include verbal, physical, or written harassment including “texting, blogging or other technological methods.”School Committee Chairman Wendy Reed said the policy will be posted on the School Committee?s website for public input.?Anyone that has a comment can submit or call into the chair or the chair of the policy sub-committee, Mr. Doucette,” said Reed. “They will be taken into consideration at the next policy subcommittee meeting.”Reed said if no other changes are recommended, the final policy will be adopted after a second reading at the next School Committee meeting.School Committee member Arthur Grabowski said the changes will bring the committee?s policy “in line” with Massachusetts state law that became effective on July 1.In other business, Reed said the committee will look to add eye wash stations, showers and some new piping to the high school?s science labs to improve safety after a feasibility study vote for new labs was referred back to the committee by Town Meeting.?We do need more information from the plumbing inspector,” said Reed. “Once we have some prices, the town and schools will have to get together and decide how and when we want to get this done.”The committee also voted unanimously to direct Superintendent Richard Langlois to start work on a statement of interest for a new high school.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].