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SAISD trustees approve open‑instruction materials plan after public criticism of 'Bluebonnet' curriculum
Summary
A parent urged trustees to remove Bluebonnet Learning during public comment; the board approved a locally maintained open education resource transition plan and ratified state certification of instructional materials after staff outlined timelines, teacher review teams and transparency steps.
Taylor Kingman, president of the San Angelo Independent School District Board of Trustees, opened the March 17 regular meeting as parents and staff discussed the district’s planned use of Bluebonnet Learning and the district’s open education resource (OER) transition plan.
A parent, Alexandra Lunning of District 5, told trustees she and other families view the Bluebonnet Learning curriculum as inappropriate and said it “is unconstitutional,” arguing the material includes a religious ideology she said was woven through lessons. “The educational value of Bluebonnet is questionable,” Lunning said during public comment, adding that the curriculum could “alienate students that don’t fit into its ideology.”
District staff presented the SAISD open education resource transition plan and said the plan is intended to meet state requirements for adopting a State Board of Education‑approved OER product and to make implementation transparent to teachers, parents and the public. Staff said the district will submit textbook and material orders as soon as the EMAT ordering window reopens (staff noted EMAT closes at the end of the month and reopens in mid‑May) so teachers can receive print materials and manipulatives in time for summer work.
Doctor Gomez (district staff member) explained the plan includes: posted, campus‑level documentation of any modifications to the adopted units; paid summer “unit collaborator” teacher teams to review and recommend unit changes; scheduled professional learning (including a July learning event called Learning Palooza and August district days); and local posting of draft unit changes so parents and the public can see where lessons are removed or revised. Gomez pointed to draft kindergarten materials where some lessons were marked “remove” and one unit listed as removed entirely, and said those draft recommendations will be finalized only after teacher teams convene in June.
Trustee Mrs. Duncan moved to approve the open education resource transition plan; Doctor Mills seconded. The board approved the plan 6–1. Later the board ratified the district’s certification of provision of instructional materials — a required annual survey to the Texas Education Agency that permits ordering funds — by a 6–1 vote.
Trustees and staff repeatedly emphasized that unit collaborator teams will be paid (extra‑duty summer pay) and that many implementation details remain subject to teacher review this spring and summer. Gomez said the district will maintain public posting of any modifications to units and will provide professional learning and scheduling supports at campuses so teachers have time to implement the materials.
The board’s votes mean SAISD can proceed with required filings and be in position to order materials when EMAT reopens, although staff emphasized specific unit changes remain draft until teacher collaborators complete review.
Trustees who supported the plan cited the district’s process for teacher input, transparency and implementation supports. The meeting record does not indicate which trustee cast the single lone vote against the measures.
The board then continued with other agenda items, including academic data and facilities procurement.
