New Prague student urges curriculum review after objectionable material in CIS literature
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Summary
Olivia Brimhall, a New Prague High School junior, told the board she was required to view and analyze material she described as 'rated R' and explicit in a CIS literature course; the board said Superintendent/Dr. Valmute will follow up and a board member formally requested a work‑session agenda item.
At the New Prague Area Schools board meeting, junior Olivia Brimhall delivered a public comment urging a review of CIS literature and course materials after she said she was required to view content she described as inappropriate and distressing.
Olivia identified herself and described dropping two college‑credit classes — Spanish 3 and CIS literature — in part because of what she said were required films and texts. She said materials included pervasive profanity and sexual content and read an extended excerpt she attributed to The Invisible Man, saying the passage and other examples made her feel "sick" and that she was "done sucking it up."
Olivia asked why students were not warned about content before registration. Olivia said: "I was very upset at finding that I had to watch the rated R movies and that it was required... I felt very uncomfortable... I'm done dealing with it, and I'm speaking up and I'm not done yet." Her mother, Cynthia Brimhall, also addressed the board, saying the family had not been warned and that the material had been analyzed in class in detail.
The board acknowledged the concern. Chair thanked the student and said he would ask "doctor Valmute" to take the information, contact the family and talk with school officials to get a response. Board member Denny formally requested the district place the issue on the next work session agenda; the chair accepted the request for consideration but did not promise a timeline.
A district representative at the meeting (speaker 12) also raised the possibility that some material, if presented in a workplace setting, could run afoul of harassment rules and emphasized the distress reported by students and families. Board members indicated they would review the matter further and the superintendent's office will follow up with the family.
Next steps: Dr. Valmute was asked to contact the family and school staff and report back; Denny requested that the topic be added to the next work‑session agenda for fuller discussion.