Clarke County parents, community members split as school board considers family life education rollout

Clarke County School Board heard more than two dozen public comments and a staff presentation Tuesday on a proposed Family Life Education (FLE) curriculum that staff say aligns with Virginia Standards of Learning.

The debate centered on whether the district should implement the curriculum approved by the board in 2019 but never fully delivered to classrooms, how opt-out procedures would work, and which grade levels are appropriate for specific lessons.

The issue drew sharply contrasting testimony from residents. Mary Velou, a Berryville resident and grandparent, urged that “the family is the primary teacher and example when it comes to these topics,” saying classroom instruction should be limited and parents given material to teach at home. Tara Crider, a White Post resident and parent, said she opposed the district teaching family life topics in elementary grades and worried the opt-out process would single out children. “These sorts of topics…deal with family values, and that should be taught in the home and not in the school,” Crider said.

Other parents and advocates urged…