Board approves Great First junior-kindergarten curriculum after contentious debate

The Forest Hills Board of Education voted to approve item B C 1, the district recommendation to adopt the Great First junior-kindergarten curriculum, after extended trustee debate and public comment. The roll-call vote recorded yes votes from Doctor Muschuck, Ms. Camode, Mr. Collie, Ms. Duran and Ms. Nymeyer and a no from Ms. DeBoer; the motion carried.

A board member raised concerns after reviewing unit book lists, saying she found mandatory readings she described as inappropriate for 4- and 5-year-olds. The trustee cited one title, Bodies Are Cool, and asked how the district could require teachers to read material she said "illustrates and celebrates body diversity" that includes post-surgical images. The trustee also questioned whether the curriculum’s stated emphasis on transformative SEL and social justice could conflict with the district’s PBIS program and whether the program required data collection from student devices: "Who's collecting it? Where is it going? What's it going for?" she asked.

Supporters of the recommendation defended the committee process and the expertise behind the review. A proponent on the board said the curriculum recommendation came from "a big cohort of people who we consider to be experts in the area of elementary education" and emphasized that teachers receive training and routinely adapt curricular materials in practice. The chair added that teachers often modify materials for the needs of students and that a single book should not determine adoption of a full curriculum.

The board’s debate included repeated requests for additional time to review the materials and for a book list from the curriculum vendor; one trustee moved to delay, while others warned that repeated tabling would delay teacher training and material ordering. After discussion the board took the roll-call vote to approve the item.