MERRILL, Wis. (WSAU) – The Merrill school board voted tonight to move forward with a new mandated comprehensive sex education curriculum.
The vote was 5 to 4 on the hotly debated topic, with over two hours of public comment. School board members ranged on both sides of the issue. Some stated concern over losing control of important policy changes to the state. Others noted that the district needed to represent all members of the community.
Among those in favor of the change was former nurse practitioner Maureen Merrier. She said that both parents and the board needed to use reason in their decision and work on good science and facts. “Just because a male and a female consummate a marriage does not make them a expert on sex education 16 years later.” She also stated that the change won't cut parents out of the process, and that they'll still have the same chance to talk with their kids about values and religion as they did last year. “I feel that we should not send out students out into the world without the basic contraceptive facts.”
Merrill Resident Karen Cournaya was against the change, and brought along over three hundred signatures asking the board to opt out of the plan this year. She says the change leaves the board powerless to make its own policy thanks to Madison. “If we say yes, we are taking control out of our hands regardless of what has been said.” She says the school board hasn't had the chance to fully explore just what these changes are going to mean for the district. She also sad that this was taking away her rights as a parent to only teach abstinence as a education model.
The board will now work to write out a new curriculum for the course, and will present it to parents for review and a chance to opt out at least 45 days before the class starts in the spring.
