Pflugerville ISD to Offer Same-Sex Partner Benefits
The Pflugerville school district takes an inclusive course. Photo courtesy flickr.com/jasonpier
The Pflugerville school district says it will offer insurance benefits to same-sex couples in domestic partnerships.
Chuck Smith with the gay rights group Equality Texas says this may be the first school district in the state to adopt the policy.
“I think they’re doing it for the same reasons that for-profit businesses do it,” Smith said. “They’re doing it in order to be competitive in the marketplace and attract good teachers.”
Pflugerville Superintendent Charles Dupre says that was part of the equation, but says it the decision to extend benefits to the partners of same-sex employees came out of discussions about workplace diversity.
“We can talk about being inclusive and talk about valuing people, but if you have people in your organization who feel like you have practices that are discriminatory, then why don’t you make some of these changes that will make me feel included?” Dupre said.
The new policy takes effect Jan. 1.
