Board chair says Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools committed to making students feel ‘safe and welcome’ | #schoolsaftey

“We’re moving forward with the relationships that we have, the partnerships that we have, learning to understand each other a bit better and ensuring that we’re moving forward in the right direction,” Boyko said after the public portion of the board’s June meeting.

Boyko said some examples of partner organizations include the Saskatoon Tribal Council, Central Urban Metis Federation, Inc. and Reconciliation Saskatoon, all groups she described as “integral” to efforts to ensure Saskatoon’s Catholic schools make students and staff “feel safe and welcome.”

The delegation called Two-Spirited people “inseparable” from First Nations culture and suggested that singling out the Rainbow Tent for exclusion represented a “denial of Indigenous queer children,” while calling on the school board to honour commitments to the Calls to Action from Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Boyko said the board would discuss the delegation’s letter further and deliver a formal response in coming days. The delegation also invited senior division leaders to attend a pipe ceremony later this month; Boyko committed to having “good representation” at the event.

Director of education Francois Rivard also responded with a statement that apologized for any hurt feelings over the directive to avoid the Rainbow Tent, while pointing out families of children attending Catholic schools have “a reasonable expectation that the education their children receive is consistent with Catholic teachings.”

Boyko on Monday said the relationship between the board and the school division’s administration remains strong and that there is “good conversation” happening on ongoing work to foster “the understanding that our community knows that they are well-loved.”

She said the division remains committed to “continue to love and find space and welcome every student and staff member who chooses to come to our schools.”