Lake Travis ISD board adopts SHAC-recommended human sexuality curriculum amid concerns and abstentions

The Lake Travis Independent School District Board of Trustees voted to adopt the human sexuality curriculum recommended by the district’s School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) at its June 9 meeting.

The board approved item 8B on the consent agenda after a brief discussion; Trustee Keeley moved to approve and Trustee Phil Davis seconded the motion. Trustee Chris Woodcock announced he would abstain and explained his rationale during public deliberation.

Woodcock said he had served on the SHAC for three years and that, while the program was attractive because it was offered at no cost, he believed the curriculum source contained “content based on outdated and ideologically biased research.” He said that concern, not cost alone, motivated his abstention. "I feel like I need to abstain," Woodcock said.

SHAC representatives and district staff told the board the council had evaluated multiple options, using a multi-criterion scoring process that included alignment to Texas requirements, feasibility for classroom delivery and teacher preference. Tasha (staff member) told the board the program the council recommended — described in the SHAC presentation as a state-board-approved option that provides external presenters — was selected after that scoring. "Lifeguard is what we are currently using and teachers are required to be the science teachers in the classroom during that time," Tasha said, adding the district would follow the same classroom supervision practice with the new program.

Board members discussed safeguards requested by trustees. Trustee Keely asked that an administrator or science teacher be required to be present when outside presenters deliver lessons; Tasha said that teachers are required to remain in the classroom for the program and that the SHAC would provide or identify a survey associated with the vendor’s grant to capture feedback. The board asked staff to verify whether the vendor’s survey answered trustees’ questions and to present district-collected feedback if necessary.

The motion carried after the vote; the board recorded no roll-call “no” votes in the public record and treated Woodcock’s statement of abstention as a formal abstention. The agenda item moved forward as part of consent after a short discussion at the table.

District staff told trustees they would follow up with details about surveys and proposed administrative oversight to ensure lessons follow the adopted materials and to provide parents and trustees with information about the local review and feedback processes.

The adoption completes the SHAC’s formal recommendation to the board. The SHAC recommendation and the board’s action do not change district policy on parental notification or removal rights; those rights remain governed by existing district procedures and state law.