Board debates health curriculum and Planned Parenthood agreement; health-resolution fails and Planned Parenthood vendor vote also fails

The Schenectady City School District Board of Education heard a presentation on the district's K212 health curriculum and then debated two high-profile items: a resolution affirming district values and a proposed services agreement with Planned Parenthood of Greater New York.

Presentation and curriculum overview

Dr. Lorinda Chisholm, executive leader in the Office of Teaching and Learning, and Jason Nackel, director of health, physical education and athletics, described the districtK212 health program and New York State health education standards. Nackel said the district currently staffs six health teachers across five buildings (three at Schenectady High School and one each at Oneida, Central Park and Mount Pleasant plus Washington Urban Campus assignments) and that health instruction is formally delivered beginning in seventh grade and again in eleventh grade, with other health topics embedded cross-curricularly. The curriculum topics Nackel cited included child abuse and exploitation prevention (``Aaron's Law'' as presented), alcohol and drugs, HIV/AIDS instruction, mental health and social-emotional learning. He…