Utah School for the Deaf and the Blind board approves updated human sexuality curriculum, removes two consent videos

The Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind board approved an updated human sexuality education curriculum at its meeting after members voted to remove two specific consent videos and asked staff to return with follow‑up information by the March 7 board meeting.

The vote followed a multi‑hour presentation from Superintendent Michelle Tanner and a committee review led by curriculum director Amy Breinholt. Board members and parents raised concerns about accessibility for deaf students, the clarity of sign language in commercially produced videos and whether materials produced by outside groups should remain on the district’s resource list.

The committee that developed the materials included parents and school staff from multiple USDB campuses and reviewed items listed in the state materials repository (RIMS), according to Tanner. "This is a very important topic," Tanner told the board as she outlined the committee process and special accessibility needs for deaf and hard‑of‑hearing students. The committee noted a lack of videos produced specifically for deaf students with clear American Sign Language (ASL) presentation rather than an interpreter inset, and it recommended parent resources and vetted materials where possible.

Board discussion…