Various issues were presented to the Unit 5 school board tonight, June 16. Over 200 people were in attendance and multiple public comments were given by students, teachers, residents and parents. An issue that had quite a few students take to a podium was the SB0818, which is a comprehensive sex education bill.
District 87 was also addressed by the public on this issue last week.
One Normal West graduate Kate Perry said she likes to think people choose love instead of hate.
LGBTQ advocate Lilly McClelland said she thinks that the school should not be explicit with elementary students.
“It is still important that they learn about consent,” said McClelland.
At 5th grade, McClelland believes children can learn about consent and start exploring sexuality.
Unit 5 Superintendent Kristen Weikle said they have not even discussed teaching a comprehensive sex education at the elementary level because they don’t feel it is age appropriate.
“We do feel like the collaboration we have at the YWCA about understanding what a ‘good touch’ or ‘bad touch’ is age-appropriate,” said Weikle.
Weikle said Unit 5 is not concerned with SB0818. The legislation, an amendment to Senate Bill 818, passed the Senate last week on a 37-18 vote along partisan lines. Floor debate was punctuated with contentious speeches, with Republican Sen. Darren Bailey referring to the bill as “perversion” multiple times while urging a “no” vote.
“Our interpretation on some of the language that has been passed and even our attorney looking at it is stating: ‘ISBE will need to come up with standards for school districts and they’ll use the National Sex Education Standard,’ but ISBE will give us standards and even within that there is some flexibility as it reads right now…that schools will have and parents will still be able to opt out,” said Weikle. “Parents will have a choice if they’re uncomfortable with that for their child.”
Weikle said there is health education begins in 8th grade and that curriculum does include LGBTQI communities.
“Right now health is taught primarily from a heterosexual perspective,” said Weikle. “We need to make sure those students are recognized.”
Becky Swan, a mom and community activist urged the board to denounce comprehensive sex education.
Masking of children and Critical Race Theory ideology being taught in schools were topics also brought to the board’s attention by public comments.
