These days, creating safe spaces in our schools is becoming as important as creating safe schools.
Not all on board
Some parents at Double Eagle Elementary in Albuquerque are upset at the signage in the school designating where the Safe Zone space is. Specifically, the Pride flag signage. But APS doesn’t have any rules regarding what type of signage can be displayed other than they must be identified.
Multiple school districts in the state now have “Safe Zones” in schools and classrooms designed to create a space where kids can just talk without feeling judged and allows them to get support they may need.
The Albuquerque Public Schools Safe Zone policy has been in place for years. According to the APS website, a “Safe Zone” area which is designated in some classrooms or schools, is a place where students can talk to an adult in a non-judgmental environment, receive support, and get connected to the resources they need to succeed. While the spaces are not specifically designated for students to talk about gender and sexual identity, it is naturally a topic that LGBTQ+ students would feel safe speaking in.
According to national studies, LGBTQ+ students face many barriers that can prevent them from feeling safe within their school environment including verbal and physical harassment and bullying. These students are at increased risk of homelessness and self-destructive behaviors which often result in attendance issues and higher drop-out rates.
According to the APS website, Safe Zone Volunteers identify their office or classroom by hanging a SAFE ZONE sign or wearing a Safe Zone lanyard. Safe Zone Volunteers may be identified virtually by the use of the Safe Zone Flag emblem in their Google classroom or electronic communications.
Last year, Rio Rancho Public Schools dealt with similar issues regarding signage and parents and teachers who felt that signaling out LGBTQ+ students might put them at further risk of bullying. The district modified its policy to make all safe zones and classrooms neutral except for signage approved for bullying and harassment support.
Not all APS schools or classrooms have a Safe Zone, and district policy dictates that a teacher must volunteer and be trained to maintain that space within the school. APS Communications Director Monica Armenta said the Safe Zone is meant to create a space for students to talk with a staff member about social and emotional development.
“It isn’t a requirement for a school to have a Safe Zone, we don’t track which schools have them and which schools don’t,” she said. A staff member could be a school counselor, a nurse or a teacher who has volunteered to manage those spaces in the school.
APS Safe Zone Volunteers attend 1-2 district meetings per year for professional development, resource sharing, and networking. Safe Zone Volunteers and other school staff may also choose to sponsor Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) clubs, support groups or lunch groups to create safe spaces for students.
Armenta says that if a parent is upset at policy or how a Safe Zone is being managed, they should contact the principal. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, they can reach out to the APS student Services Center.