The purpose of the Blue Ridge Diversity Club was questioned again by the school board at the Monday, Aug. 9 meeting.
Board member Christina Whitney asked that the appointment of a Diversity Club advisor be held out for discussion.
Whitney told board members the Diversity Club had “gone in a direction opposite of what was presented to us.”
She said that when the formation of the club was first presented to the board, there was controversy about the club being a Gay/Straight Alliance.
The board eventually approved the club with its purpose being to educate students about tolerance, cultural diversity and anti-bullying.
However, Whitney said at an International Day at the school, the Diversity Club table focused on gay rights.
“The student body sees the club as a Gay/Straight Alliance,” said Whitney.
A Diversity Club co-advisor, Lynn Parker, was approved at a previous meeting. But Whitney said she would move to have the funding for that position rescinded at the next meeting.
Whitney said a Diversity Club could exist but the board wasn’t obligated to fund it.
In a 5-3 vote, the board opted to not approve Jamie Torrence as a club co-advisor.
Board members Laurie Bonner, Priscinda Gaughan and John Ketchur voted in favor of funding the position; while Chistina Cosmello, Harold Empett, Joel Whitehead, Whitney and Alan Hall voted against funding the position.
At the July meeting, the board created an Athletic Director’s position in the same category as other coaching and activity advisors.
However the union threatened to take the district to court over the move and the board rescinded the position at Monday’s meeting.
According to District Business Manager Loren Small, the board created a part-time Athletic Director position to meet the union’s demands.
Bonner voted against rescinding the July vote and creating a regular, part-time position. Although she said challenging the union in court could be costly to district taxpayers, she had to vote her conscience.
“We need to save money somehow,” Bonner said. “Unfortunately, the union challenged it.”
A new superintendent has not yet been hired for the district. The position has been vacant since the retirement of Chris Dyer at the end of June.
The next board meeting is scheduled for Sept. 13, at 7:30 in the school cafeteria.
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