The Grossmont Union High School District board voted last week to support Proposition 8, the November ballot initiative that would ban same-sex marriage.

Though it isn’t entirely surprising – the board joined a federal lawsuit last year to overturn a state law prohibiting discrimination in schools based on sexual orientation and gender identity – it is, nonetheless, galling.

Trustee Jim Kelly introduced the resolution to support Proposition 8. Trustees Larry Urdahl, Robert Shield and Priscilla Schreiber voted to support the resolution. Trustee Richard Hoy abstained and told The San Diego Union-Tribune he doesn’t believe Proposition 8 directly affects schools.

Kelly and trustees who support Proposition 8 say they don’t want teachers to be forced to teach that same-sex marriage is the same as marriage between a man and a woman.

The reality is: teachers will not be required to breach their moral code or religious values to teach marriage, and students won’t be brainwashed into subscribing to a liberal Democratic agenda (after all, isn’t that the underlying fear?).

Kelly and his cohorts are using the politics of fear and abusing their role as members of the school board to endorse their own conservative values – and to guarantee re-election.

What Kelly and others fail to mention is the curriculum of marriage, as dictated by the Department of Education, includes the legal and financial responsibilities of marriage and parenthood – it doesn’t require teachers to endorse same-sex marriage, or discuss the politics of same-sex marriage.

The Department of Education requires teachers to teach the rights and responsibilities afforded to all married couples. If same-sex couples are permitted to marry after November, teachers will not have to distinguish between same-sex married couples and opposite-sex married couples – the rights and responsibilities afforded to one, will be afforded the other.

Like Hoy, we don’t see the direct impact Proposition 8 has on school districts.

Should Proposition 8 fail in November, the board’s worst fears may be realized (yes, worse than 18 years of religious, Republican indoctrination wiped clean by same-sex marriage); it just may be, if same-sex marriage is allowed past November, that nothing will change – and that’s what the board is most afraid of; that, and losing re-election.

Perhaps most telling of the board’s intent was Urdahl’s comment to The San Diego Union-Tribune: “To not support this in East County is to end your life in politics,” said Urdahl, who is up for re-election in November.

In seems, in the East County, the only thing more important than the well-being of the students, is the board’s tenure.

The vote to support the November ballot initiative was introduced with some urgency – and put to vote days before the board voted to approve a $417 million November bond measure which will raise East County property taxes for the next 25 years.

The California School Boards Association is not taking a position on Proposition 8 and the California Teachers Association is opposed to banning same-sex marriage.

As elected officials, the Grossmont Union High School District board could be agents for social change. Granted, the East County is a conservative area and its voters appoint officials who reflect conservative values.

As opposed to making choices to secure re-election, however, the district’s board members should make choices to ensure the safety and success of each child.

Safety includes prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, in addition to race and gender; and success includes creating an environment that fosters diversity and celebrates differences, so students are challenged to think outside their bubble.

The leadership of the Grossmont Union High School District endorses the status quo; an environment where students are still afraid to be openly gay or lesbian, and where diversity isn’t celebrated – it’s discouraged.