'Diversity Club' still not official at Maquoketa High School

MAQUOKETA - Stopping bullying is a priority for any school administrator in just about any district.

Naturally, students feel the constant pressure to fit in.

"Kids in our school get picked on and it gets to an extreme level," said Beth Linhart, 16, a junior at Maquoketa Community High School.

Linhart is one of a group of students trying to form a "Diversity Club" and gain official recognition from the school board.

Yet that hasn't happened.

Junior Raina Costello, 16, said she and other supporters have brought up the issue multiple times with the board, only to be told no.

"They kind of told us they didn't want to hear from us anymore," said Costello about the most recent meeting, on Monday night. Costello said the idea came in the fall after some of her friends, who are gay, felt out of place in the school community.

Research on this issue over the past weeks and months shows a clear split over the proposed club. Supporters say the club is intended for any student who may not "fit in" to have a place where they will feel accepted.

"We decided to make a club where people who don't feel like they fit in, and not just the gay students, but a friend who is a Mormon and a friend who is a Christian and they feel they get picked on," said Costello.

Maquoketa Community School Superintendent Kim Huckstadt is not on the school board and said, Thursday night, that he supports the club.

"I actually recommended the board adopt a plan and the Diversity Club," said Huckstadt.

While the School Board has not taken any action to officially recognize the proposed club, Huckstadt said the district is "very serious" about wanting schools to stay as safe places.

"We are a public school and we are required to take affirmative steps for anti-discrimination," said Huckstadt. "The law is very specific about taking affirmative steps but not so specific that it must be in the form of a Diversity Club."

Huckstadt said the district uses the Olewus Bullying Prevention Program to keep bullying out of Maquoketa. As a supporter of the proposed club, Costello said they would work with the Olewus program as well.

The superintendent maintains that, while supporters are disappointed at this stage, the dialogue has been very valuable.

"We need to continue talking about it."