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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, F eb ru ar y 17 ,2 02 2 | 10 Existing Cabinets Made Functional with Custom Pull-Out Shelves YOUR DREAM KITCHEN WITHOUT THE RENOVATION Gain More Access with Optimized and Organized Cabinets and Containers FREE Design Consultation (289) 812-8952 shelfgenie.com Locally Owned & Operated - FULL SERVICE DESIGN & INSTALL -CUSTOM TO THE MILLIMETRE -LIFETIME WARRANTY The Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB) has revealed new mandatory training for teachers. The HCDSB has out- lined a training plan for all employees on "loving and accompanying students who identify as 2SLGBTQ+." The program includes meetings, a half- day retreat and presenta- tions with focuses that in- clude creating safe work- places and connecting fam- ilies to appropriate sup- ports. The new training plan is a direct result of the April 2021 trustee decision not to fly the rainbow Pride flag at HCDSB schools during the month of June. The mo- tion to fly the Pride flag was ultimately amended to in- stead require additional staff training about 2SLGBTQ+ students. The motion resolves "that the HCDSB create a shared understanding through mandatory train- ing for senior staff (includ- ing Superintendents and board level Senior Manag- ers/Chiefs of program- ming) on the Catholic School Teaching on loving and accompanying stu- dents who identify as 2SLGBTQ+, denomina- tional rights and rights of students and staff under the Ontario Human Rights Code." Trustee Nancy Guzzo questioned the makeup of the staff committee that put the training plan to- gether. She expressed dis- appointment that mem- bers of the 2SLGBTQ+ community weren't more involved. "We're having a conver- sation about a particular group that has been under- represented and we didn't create a seat at the table for them. And we're coming back and talking about moving forward and that wasn't one of the things that was sought out," said Guzzo. Lorrie Naar, superin- tendent of education, said students were part of the process to create the train- ing plan, but being a 2SLGBTQ+ person was not mandatory to be part of the committee. "We didn't make that a requirement of our com- mittee or for somebody to disclose that on the com- mittee. Right now, we've been working with more of a higher-level staff com- mittee," said Naar. "We are trying to make sure the work is reflective of the theological side of things, the mental health and well- ness component and the le- gal side of things and equi- ty piece. We are branching into smaller committees and those subcommittees will be pulling in more peo- ple." Staff said student groups have been con- sulted and will continue to be going forward. Discussion on the issue proved contentious, with multiple "point of order" calls, a request by the chair to one trustee that he stop interrupting and one suc- cessful appeal of a chair de- cision. 2SLGBTQ+ STAFF TRAINING PLAN OUTLINED FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS ROLAND CILLIERS rcilliers@metroland.com NEWS The Halton Catholic District School Board has outlined a training plan to support employees and students who identify as 2SLGBTQ+. Graham Paine/Metroland