School Board Delays Vote On Sex Education In Barnegat

BARNEGAT, NJ — The Barnegat Township Board of Education decided to delay approving the health and physical education curriculum until a later meeting.

The Board voted to okay the rest of the curriculum, but decided to leave out the health component as they plan to discuss it more and hold another information night for parents, after two have already been held.

The comprehensive health and physical education standards have been controversial throughout the state in the past few months, but particularly in Ocean County, where many parents have said that the standards are too inappropriate for students. Specific issues include sex education and gender identity discussion. Read More: Parents Reject Sex, LGBTQ Education In New Lacey Curriculum

Now in Barnegat, the health and physical education curriculum heads back to the education committee for reconsideration.

The curriculum that was set to be approved but delayed was the result of parent information sessions previously held to develop it as a community, by discovering what parents wanted in it and what should be left to be taught at home.

"The State Department of Education provided the standards and the local district comes up with the curriculum," Superintendent Brian Latwis said. "And the curriculum is what we establish as a school board and as a district, to make sure that it meets the needs of our community."

When Barnegat students and parents logged into the online portal, they had to either opt-in or opt-out of the curriculum. But there were concerns that it would not be enough.

Board member Sandra Churney voiced her concerns regarding the curriculum, saying that the language was "very vague."

"I just don't see how anyone could vote yes for this curriculum," Churney said.

She outlined several concerns she had, citing specific examples, adding that she thought board members did not have enough time to go over enough of the curriculum.

"It's just too vague," Churney said, sharing an example about penetration. "It's a definition, but it's going to cause a discussion. It's not going to end there."

Latwis said that he did not think the wording was too vague, instead that it was "clearly identified" on the four-page opt-out document.

He also addressed Churney's concerns about opting-out not being enough; that students would still learn the topics in other subjects.

Latwis said that teachers would be held accountable, but "teachable moments" happen frequently. "That's been going on since the beginning of time," he said.

"If it's a sensitive topic, I would venture to guess that the vast majority of staff, whether it's Barnegat or anywhere, don't delve into that sensitive topic," Latwis said. "And they punt that back to the parents or the home, or they tell them that they should ask the appropriate teacher."

The health and physical education curriculum will now be added back on the agenda "sometime throughout the fall" to be voted on.