SEATTLE — The elective course, called POST, is a large student-run organization at Garfield High School that organizes 15 to 20 trips for 600 students a year.
A district spokesperson, Lesley Rogers, told KIRO 7 that while the review of POST was triggered by the complaint, the actual decision to change the program had more to do with academic rigor.
In an email, Rogers said, “School administration had previous concerns about course content and agreed that a curriculum update was needed. By updating the course to Natural Resources there is a much stronger educational focus in the field of science. The Natural Resources curriculum is owned by the district and will be implemented as part of the course update.”
Geoffrey McGrath filed the complaint earlier this year.
McGrath was a scoutmaster until the Boy Scouts of America revoked his membership over his sexual orientation.
McGrath said, “The state law and district policy are quite clear that programs that are implemented in schools must be implemented by a non-discriminating workforce.”
While the district does not discriminate, he said BSA does.
Scott MacGowan, an independent adviser hired by POST, said BSA only supplies their insurance. He said they provide a valuable service with their long history of experience in outdoor programming, and BSA helps POST with outreach and facilities.
But POST does not receive funding from BSA, nor does BSA provide POST with its curriculum, according to MacGowan.
“We definitely are very inclusive as POST. And we want everyone to have the opportunity to be a leader, and learn those skills. And we hope Boy Scouts would have the same [broader] policy,” MacGowan said.
He said POST has had gay leaders, and BSA has been supportive.
MacGowan said he did not know about the district’s plans to change the program until news media told him Wednesday, a week before the program is set to start for fall 2014.
He also said the curriculum has always been approved by the district. Students present lessons on biology and geology as they explore the outdoors.
KIRO
