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Board approves curriculum updates after public objections to ninth-grade readings
Summary
The board approved a slate of new and revised curricula — including multiple ninth-grade English units — after public comment and an extended board debate about access to materials and whether certain readings were age-appropriate. Two board members voted no.
The administration recommended approval of new and updated curriculum for elementary science, middle school chorus and several high-school items; the materials had been presented to the board on Aug. 3. During public comment, Charlotte McDonald read an excerpt from a ninth-grade reading and urged the board to review materials she deemed "age-inappropriate". "This is unh wholesome. It's inappropriate. It is age inappropriate," she said while urging the board to scrutinize ninth-grade units.
Board members debated whether the board had sufficient access to full unit materials and raised concerns about several ninth-grade units that one member described as having "dark" content (suicide, incest and violent stories). One board member asked for fuller package access before voting; others said cover sheets and unit overviews had been provided. After discussion, the board moved and the chair announced the motion passed with two members voting no. The board did not rescind the curriculum but several members said they want more involvement and a standing curriculum committee to increase board oversight of instructional materials.
