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Oxford Area School District education committee to review social‑emotional learning complaint
Summary
A parent’s written complaint alleging noncompliance with Executive Order 14190 was read at the Oxford Area School District work session; Superintendent David Woods said the district has not sanctioned materials that violate laws or executive orders and the education committee will review the correspondence and report back in August.
Oxford Area School District board members on June 10 directed the board’s education committee to review a written complaint and related materials that questioned the district’s use of social‑emotional learning (SEL) curriculum and some library resources.
The complaint, submitted May 28 and read into the record at the work session, alleged that SEL materials used in elementary grades and some library items are not in compliance with Executive Order 14190 and asked the board to take prompt action. Superintendent David Woods responded in writing and in the meeting, saying the district had not sanctioned any materials “in contravention of any executive orders, mandates, or laws surrounding education, both now and in the past.”
The matter was referred to the education committee for review and the board was told the committee will report back in August. Board members said they wanted community concerns examined while also avoiding review processes that might lend legitimacy to inaccurate claims.
The written correspondence referenced specific instructional materials, including MyView Literacy and MyWorld Social Studies, and cited ESSER 3 funding used for curriculum purchase. The superintendent’s written response, provided to the board, stated the district teaches SEL competencies and believes the materials are legally compliant and developmentally appropriate. In the meeting David Woods told board members, “Please let the administration know if the majority wishes for the curriculum and associated resources to deny teaching children the 5 pillars of social emotional learning in the grade levels.”
During public comment, Ronnie Lutz of East Nottingham Township said SEL is taught through an equity lens and argued the materials emphasize group identity and oppression. Lutz said mental‑health staff hired with ESSER funding were not appointed until the 2024–25 school year and questioned whether the timing of hires reflected pandemic academic‑loss remediation or other priorities. Lutz told the board, “Social emotional learning is based on education through an equity lens. It is . . . about teaching children that their responses need to be based on how it affects other people.”
At least one board member cautioned that referring the complaint to the education committee could give claims that the member described as unfounded “legitimacy” and that the district should guard against using staff time to re‑investigate material already reviewed by administration. Board members agreed the education committee should examine the materials and return findings to the full board in August.
What happens next: the education committee will review the written correspondence and the administration’s response and present findings at a future meeting in August. No change to curriculum or library policy was approved at the June 10 work session.
