BENTONVILLE -- The School Board on Monday officially rejected proposed changes to the School District's Equal Employment Opportunity policy, ending a debate that played out over the past four months.
The board voted 4-2 against board member Grant Lightle's request to add sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, genetic information, marital status and veterans to the classifications protected under the district's anti-discrimination policy.
Board members Brent Leas, Rebecca Powers, Travis Riggs and Willie Cowgur voted against the additions. Lightle and Matt Burgess voted for it. The vote's outcome was met with a standing ovation from most of the dozens of people in the audience at Barker Middle School.
The board discussed the issue for more than 30 minutes after hearing once more from the public on the issue. Of the 22 people who addressed the board, 17 spoke against the proposed changes.
Superintendent Michael Poore issued a recommendation on the proposal last week. Poore said no changes were necessary, in part because the district's policy already provides adequate protection for employees in the category of sexual orientation.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission interprets sexual orientation discrimination as a form of sex discrimination, which is already a part of the district's policy, Poore told the board last week.
Lightle, who missed last week's meeting, said he feels it's the board's obligation to help create an environment where all employees and students feel safe and accepted.
"I do feel passionate about the inherent goodness of tolerance and acceptance," Lightle said.
He proceeded to question each board member individually about whether they think it's fine for the district to discriminate against someone based on their sexual orientation.
"I don't believe in discrimination at all," Leas said.
Powers said if board members found out someone were being discriminated against in any way, it would be the board's job to address that.
Riggs said he wasn't sure he was comfortable with how Lightle was posing his question to each board member, but he insisted he does not believe the district discriminates against anyone.
Poore's recommendation was based largely on the advice of district attorney Marshall Ney, who issued an opinion last month stating the U.S. Supreme Court's decision related to same-sex marriage did not warrant any changes to district policies.
Several people who addressed the board objected to the characterization of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's position as one the district must follow.
"Let's be clear," said Andrea Lafferty, president of the Traditional Values Coalition. "Anyone, whether it's a school official, board member or other who cites the EEOC guidelines is doing the bidding of the Obama administration."
Ney answered board members' questions. Though the commission's recommendation is not law, it's an issue the district could be challenged on in court if it chooses not to follow it, Ney said.
"Your price of admission to find out whether you're right or they're right is a lawsuit," Ney said.
Dave Perozek can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @NWADaveP.
NW News on 08/18/2015