Selah School Board adopts 'John McCoy' Since Time Immemorial curriculum after extended public comment

The Selah School Board voted to adopt the John McCoy "Since Time Immemorial" curriculum at its June meeting after presentations from district staff and a Yakima Nation representative and roughly an hour of public comment both for and against the proposal.

The board's decision followed a presentation from Alicia Jacobs, the district’s Executive Director of Student Learning, who described the multi-month process of educator convenings, review by the Instructional Materials Committee and public viewings, and said the adoption adds Native perspectives to existing social-studies instruction rather than replacing the district’s full social-studies program. "It is implementing - it's looking at what we're currently teaching and providing a Native perspective to that," Jacobs said, summarizing the committee's work and the committee's recommendation to the board.

Superintendent Kevin McKay acknowledged he had previously given an incomplete legal answer at the May meeting and summarized a written…