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Parents press Davis School District for more transparency on SEL, curriculum pilots and use of COVID funds
Summary
Several parents during public comment urged Davis School District to make curriculum pilots and SEL materials more transparent, asked for parental access to pilot curricula, questioned ESSER/COVID aide hiring, and suggested classroom cameras or remote‑learning options for quarantines.
Several parents used the board's public comment period to press the Davis School District for clearer access to curriculum and social‑emotional learning (SEL) materials and for more transparency about how federal COVID relief funds were spent.
Emily Daley, who said she regularly attends board meetings, asked the board to place the public comment policy on a future agenda so the district can consider ‘‘different methods of adding additional time where there are additional parents who like to give public comments.’’ She said some meetings have had full rooms while ‘‘we've only been able to hear from 6’’ speakers.
Mike Brown of Bountiful raised concerns about national education groups and curriculum, saying the NEA recently approved a plan ‘‘to promote critical race theory’’ and urging the board to oppose what he called ‘‘this racist ideology.’’ Brown stated parents ‘‘are in charge of their children and what is being taught.’’
Nicole Mason, a parent of five, said she could not learn where an anti‑bias pilot program was being used or view the pilot curriculum despite requests to district offices and the equity department. Mason also questioned how ESSER (federal COVID relief) funds were spent on classroom COVID aides and suggested the district consider putting ‘‘cameras in every classroom’’ so parents could view lessons or support remote learning if students must quarantine.
Brooke Stevens said SEL resources on the district website encouraged student activism and asked that parents be included and notified, including about the district’s transgender policy. Stevens cited a program called Wise that includes parent materials as an example of an approach that integrates families.
Board members acknowledged the concerns and noted staff follow‑up practices: the board said public comments are not answered on the spot but that staff will follow up with contact information and further details when appropriate. Several board members said changes to public comment rules would have to go through the policy review committee.
The public comment period was limited to three minutes per speaker and 18 minutes total as announced at the meeting.
