Board approves fetal development video to meet state SB1046 requirements

The Middleton School District Board of Trustees approved a fetal development video the district will make available to teachers to satisfy requirements of state legislation (referred to in the meeting as SB1046).

During the meeting staff explained the statute requires schools to make an ultrasound fetal development video that meets specific state criteria available to students in grades 5 through 12 when instruction addresses human development. The district presented the video shown in committee, identified in the meeting as the "Baby Olivia" video, and played it for trustees before taking a vote.

Administrators told the board the law lists explicit criteria for the video and that the district’s recommendation is to approve this specific video as a resource that meets those criteria. They said local education agency (LEA) staff retain discretion over where and how the resource is used within grades 5–12: the requirement applies when a teacher covers human development topics in a course such as health or biology, but not every 5th‑grade classroom will necessarily show the video.

Trustees discussed whether to table the item to allow additional review; several members preferred viewing the video before voting. After watching the short video the board moved and approved the recommendation. The motion recorded in the minutes authorized the district to use the presented video to meet the state requirement. The transcript records the motion and that the vote was "Aye" and carried by voice vote; no roll-call tally was provided.

Staff noted the district can bring additional approved resources to the board later to provide teachers with choices that meet the state’s criteria. Administrators also said the board could table future approvals if trustees request more time to review materials prior to voting.