Missoula School District 1 delays vote after K–8 HIV/AIDS curriculum presented for public review

Ed Courtney, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction for Missoula School District 1, opened a presentation summarizing development of a revised K–8 HIV/AIDS curriculum and turned the session over to classroom teachers and school health staff for grade‑level details. The district’s Curriculum and Instruction (CNI) committee recommended delaying formal adoption to allow additional public review and video previews.

The curriculum team said the revision emphasizes accurate, age‑appropriate information, clarifies transmission language and adds a learning outcome to “understand the effects of HIV on the body’s immune system.” Presenters said materials span kindergarten through eighth grade and include print resources from Weekly Reader and Office of Public Instruction materials, posters from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and a mix of videos for older grades. Renee Herbst, school nurse, summarized national and local context: “The number of people estimated to be infected with HIV in The United States is 1,500,000, with one of the fastest growing groups to be in our teenage population,” and she noted “419 known HIV cases” in Montana and “56 found in Missoula County.”

Why it matters: district presenters said that providing accurate information at age‑appropriate moments can reduce fear, correct misconceptions and teach behaviors that avoid risk. The CNI committee and the full health committee developed the curriculum with teacher, administrator and parent representatives after surveys in 1991–93 indicated students wanted more information about AIDS.

Most important details

- Development and review process: Courtney described the timeline dating to a 1991–92 health survey and the formation of a full health committee in 1992–93 that included teachers, administrators and parent representatives. The revised curriculum and materials were presented to the CNI committee in September and October and brought to the full board as an information item in November. Because of public interest, the committee recommended delaying adoption until the February board meeting to permit broader review and to preview videos at different grade levels.

- Grade‑level scope and changes: presenters outlined goals and classroom plans for each grade band. Kindergarten–second grade materials focus on general communicable disease prevention and reassurance that students “do not need to worry about getting AIDS,” with guidance that teachers refer further questions to parents. Third and fourth grade lessons add one explicit learning outcome “to understand the effects of HIV on the body’s immune system” and specify transmission descriptions emphasizing blood‑to‑blood exposure and the possibility of mother‑to‑unborn‑child transmission. Fourth grade materials include demonstrations (for example, modeling respiratory spread vs. blood exposure) and suggested use of Weekly Reader resources; the committee estimated the unit at roughly five to six 30‑minute lessons.

Fifth grade materials likewise add immune‑system content and lengthen the stated incubation window between HIV infection and the appearance of AIDS symptoms (presenters said the range now includes “3 months to 10 years or beyond”). Presenters said the fifth grade unit would include a pretest, teacher information sheets, overhead transparencies and the video “I Have AIDS: A Teenager’s Story” (the Ryan White story), and estimated five to six 30–40 minute lessons.

Sixth grade curriculum aligns with existing science and puberty instruction, introduces vocabulary including “condom,” and includes an interview video with Magic Johnson; presenters said the unit can be covered in about five lessons and that the district would stress parental involvement in decisions about sexual activity content. Seventh and eighth grade HIV/AIDS instruction is taught as part of the sexually transmitted disease (STD) unit; presenters described four to 16 class periods depending on grade and noted use of teacher resource books, lecture material and videos such as “A Million Teenagers” and “Teen AIDS in Focus.”

- Instructional approach and teacher guidance: presenters emphasized age‑appropriate instruction, rehearsal of “ways you cannot get AIDS” (hugging, sharing drinking straws, etc.), referral of students’ deeper questions to parents, and use of role‑plays, demonstrations and pretests to gauge student knowledge and discussion needs. Teachers were advised to reassure students and to emphasize that avoiding specific risky behaviors prevents infection.

- Materials and review logistics: presenters identified several resources by name (Weekly Reader publications, Office of Public Instruction materials, CDC posters, Straight Talk magazine, and multiple videos) and said curricula and materials were available for public review at the district curriculum office, Administration Building, 215 South Sixth Street West. Linda Naul, curriculum coordinator, said the videos “will also be previewed during the last two weeks of this month.”

Discussion, direction and next steps

- Discussion only: presenters and committee members described curricular content, lesson counts and recommended classroom activities; they explained language changes (substituting “HIV” for “AIDS virus” and specifying “blood‑to‑blood” transmission) and noted items still under review such as the listing or phrasing of “sexual contact” for younger grades.

- Direction: the CNI committee recommended and the presenters reported that the decision on formal adoption be delayed until the February board meeting to permit additional public comment and to allow previewing of videos.

- Formal action: the district postponed final adoption to the February meeting (recommendation presented as a deferment to allow fuller public review and video preview; no vote record was provided in the presentation).

Context and background

Presenters traced the process back to a 1991–92 health survey and said the full health committee — formed in the 1992–93 school year with teachers, administrators and parents — produced the curriculum revisions. The presenters repeatedly urged written feedback from the public and parents while noting that some videos remained unavailable for preview at the time of the presentation.

Quotes

Renee Herbst, school nurse: “We ask that you provide us with any written recommendations that you may have after viewing this program.”

Renee Herbst: “The number of people estimated to be infected with HIV in The United States is 1,500,000, with one of the fastest growing groups to be in our teenage population.”

Linda Naul, curriculum coordinator: “The curriculum and materials which were discussed today are available for your review in the curriculum office of Missoula School District 1. The Administration Building is located at 215 South Sixth Street West. The videos will also be previewed during the last two weeks of this month.”

Ending

School officials will keep materials open for public review at the curriculum office and will preview the proposed videos before the district’s planned February decision on adoption. Presenters asked the public to submit written suggestions during the review period.