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Newberg SD 29J staff recommend Great Body Shop for elementary health; board told final adoption vote next month
Summary
District staff reviewed K–12 health curriculum options and recommended the ODE‑aligned Great Body Shop for elementary schools, presented cost estimates and community feedback, and said the board will be asked to adopt materials at a future meeting.
District staff presented a summary of the K–12 health curriculum review and told the Newberg School District 29J Board of Directors that they expect to bring a final adoption motion at the next board meeting.
The presentation, led by Dr. Mealy, outlined a multi‑month review process that included two parent listening nights, teacher pilot lessons at the elementary level, public posting of materials beginning in March, and several parent meetings. "We've had a huge window of engagement with our community members, our parents, and our teachers," Dr. Mealy said.
Board members were presented with three publisher options: the ODE‑approved Great Body Shop for elementary grades and two different publishers being considered for grades 6–12. Staff said elementary teachers strongly preferred Great Body Shop and that secondary teachers found the two secondary options substantially similar in content and alignment. "There's not a particular strength in one or another," Dr. Mealy said about the secondary choices.
The presentation detailed content areas parents emphasized, including basic hygiene, healthy relationships, and age‑appropriate treatment of body development standards, with special attention to compliance with Aaron's Law. Dr. Mealy told the board the elementary materials include lessons on hygiene and permission/safe touch that are intentionally age‑appropriate and that certain middle‑ and high‑school lessons address abusive relationships in more detail. "Not only do these tools bring us into compliance with Aaron's Law, but they do it in a really thoughtful manner," Dr. Mealy said.
Staff presented a seven‑year costing estimate: roughly $92,000 for elementary (including teacher materials and student readers sent home) and about $20,000 for secondary materials over the same period. Dr. Mealy said she will return with a final recommendation after secondary teachers complete one more pilot and the district clarifies whether one secondary publisher offers a meaningful advantage.
Board members asked about publisher continuity, opt‑out procedures for sensitive lessons, and how instructional time would be scheduled across K–12. Staff said K–5 instruction is primarily delivered by classroom teachers, sometimes in partnership with PE teachers, nurses, and counselors. For grades 6–12, staff described existing class structures: dedicated health classes at some middle and high school grade bands and rotation models at others. "Once we have the tool that we know we're using, then we'll look at what we need to have covered, who's doing what part so that we can help our teachers lift this," Dr. Mealy said.
Multiple board members emphasized the need for advance parent notification before sensitive units and for keeping instruction aligned strictly to chosen materials. One board member referenced child safety advocacy and the importance of using anatomically correct terms to help students report abuse.
No formal vote was taken. Dr. Mealy said she will bring a recommendation and a request for the board to take formal action at a future meeting after secondary pilots conclude and staff refine the cost option for secondary materials.
The board’s next steps will be a final staff recommendation, a formal adoption motion at a subsequent meeting, and detailed planning with building principals about scheduling and communication with families.
