Gay club may meet today

PROVO — A gay-straight alliance could begin meeting at Provo High today, but it will be another month before the Provo Board of Education weighs in on a proposed new districtwide club policy that would give the group formal recognition.

Board members — who went over the proposal during a work session prior to its regular meeting on Tuesday — said they want to glean opinions from their constituents and tweak the proposed policy before voting on how clubs will be formed and function.

The students who want to start a gay-straight alliance at Provo High School are expected to meet with the principal today despite the delay and could be given club status. The club would have its first meeting as soon as this afternoon, the students said.

"Their free speech guarantees it, as long as it's (operating) within state law," said Superintendent Randy Merrill. "As long as it's not disruptive."

The students began the process to receive a club charter about a month ago. That prompted district officials — who knew some parents would be upset over it — to consider a districtwide club policy. Club policies have been left to the individual schools, said Greg Hudnall, Provo District's student services director.

State law requires school boards have consistent policies for all schools.

During the study session, board members raised questions about certain aspects of the policy that will require input from district's legal adviser. The proposed policy is modeled after the one being used in the Granite School District, and board members said they want to talk to Granite officials about it.

The club would be the first gay-straight alliance at a Utah County high school.

"I know this is new to Utah County," said Merrill, whose doctoral dissertation was in education law. "But this was all debated and argued in the courts in the 1990s. In most districts, they come and go."

"I think (such clubs) need to disclose who they are getting funds from," said board member Mary Ann Christiansen.

Merrill warned against making too many changes to the policy because new legal challenges could arise. The district cannot discriminate against certain types of noncurricular clubs. It either allows all or none, he said.

If noncurricular clubs are allowed, Merrill said, then there can be no discrimination against any group of students.