Gilroy Unified School District Board uses policy to prohibit
instructor participation in event
Gilroy – Teachers planning to join students in a speechless protest will be barred from doing so by a board policy that prohibits classroom interruptions, Superintendent Edwin Diaz reported at Thursday’s board meeting.
The report Diaz presented to the public stated, “Because teacher participation in the Day of Silence would district students, Board Policy 6116, supports prohibiting teacher participation in the Day of Silence.”
The policy was adopted by the Gilroy Unified School District in June of 2005.
Last April about four teachers participated in the Day of Silence, a nationwide protest meant to symbolize and protest the discrimination gays and lesbians experience. Their actions led to a year-long controversy and calls from the community for the board to enact a policy banning another teacher protest.
The Day of Silence is referred to as a student-led protest on its Web site.
Diaz explained that the district began delving into the legalities of the issue last Spring, immediately after the Gilroy High School teachers went through with their plans to remain silent. The board revised policies regarding classroom distraction, student harassment and tolerance, he said. Polices were strengthened and rules were put into place to ensure they would be enforced.
“I think a lot has been accomplished,” Diaz said. “I think the policies and the agreements with the employee groups and the evaluation proceedings make it pretty clear that as a district we can prohibit teachers from participating.”
It was the board’s intention to revise the policies, work through negotiations and take the necessary steps to prevent teachers from repeating last year’s actions, he said.
Four locals headed to the pulpit to express their contentment with the board’s decision. The parents and community members said they were pleased that the board had taken action, but wondered what would happen to teachers who choose to violate the policy.
Diaz’s report states that “although district and site leadership have no indication that teachers will participate in Day of Silence activities by not speaking during class time, I believe it is necessary to clearly communicate the district’s position that teachers apply all of their available resource, including speech, to provide the best possible instruction.”
Diaz said when employees are given a directive they are expected to follow it and that he will send a letter to the staff to to ensure that’s clearly communicated.
But Gilroy resident and Dispatch columnist Cynthia Walker said she’s heard conflicting reports, specifically from one teacher who said she was planning on participating in the protest, along with other teachers.
Trustee Rhoda Bress said from what she’s heard, it doesn’t appear that any teachers will join the protest. Still, she said the district needs to determine if any educators plan to.
Michelle Hayton said she attended meetings last year to express her disapproval of the Day of Silence.
“I am also happy to hear that a policy has been put in place,” she said.
Still, Hayton said she wondered why the board waited until a month prior to the protest to take any action. Also, the mother of two elementary school children said she hopes the tolerance training does not only address one group of students but addresses discrimination in all areas.
Mark Zappa, an outspoken opponent of the Day of Silence, echoed Hayton’s sentiments saying, “this could have been enforced last year and you punted.”
Bress said she supports everything Diaz reported during the meeting but recognized it became clear in the past few weeks that there was a communication problem.
“I intend to learn from the experience and try to improve,” she said.
Board President Pat Midtgaard said she agreed with Bress‚ comment that communication could have been better.
