Superintendent reaching out to students after winter break
By Dan McLeister
for The Elmhurst Independent
Students and teachers protested Superintendent David Moyer’s move to pull morning announcements by LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender) students at York High School earlier this school year.
After the December 15th meeting of the District 205 School Board, Moyer issued an email which said “I share the students’ belief in tolerance, acceptance and respect for all individuals. I have made it clear at every point along the way.
“The students exercised their right to express their thoughts at the public meeting. They were articulate and passionate in expressing their views and I was proud of how our students handled themselves.
“I will be reaching out to the students after the winter break.”
School Board President Shannon Ebner said the Board is aware of the situation and expects the Board to have a response on the issue at its next meeting on January 12th.
Student Cameron DiCanio stated that the announcements were not inappropriate. DiCanio, who said he was born in a female body, wanted to be fair and open. People don’t accept what they don’t understand, according to DiCanio. “I am proud of AS.IS.”
When he recognized Amy Thompson, some people in the audience gave a standing ovation.
Thompson is a college and career counselor at York and one of two faculty sponsors of AS.IS. one of the clubs at York. She said the announcements had been approved by the York administration. She said the announcements, some of which were mundane and some of which were hilarious, were to keep students connected.
Thompson said she had only been told that Moyer had indicated that some of the announcements to be made in October were not factual.
