Reminder: The Council has completed its "charge" from the Board of Education to develop recommendations as to appropriate "Community Standards" to serve as a foundation for the instruction and curriculum of AIDS Prevention Education and other related issues.  All committee members are invited to attend the November 15, 2007 Board of Education meeting where this will be a part of that agenda.

(Summary of Council's recommendations - See VI)

Members present at 11/7/07 meeting:

• Bruce R. Sharpe
• Kathy Sinesi
• Nancy Aller
• Rev. Vern Groves
• Jodi Finton
• Dave Hubman
• Shawn Skeele
• Fred Lawrence
• Aleshia Pforter
• Gabe Cirbus
• Diane Pratt
• Victoria Harris

Not present:  Rebecca Hampton, Deb Amidon

I.  Purpose of committee reviewed

A. Purposes

1. To determine appropriate "Community Standards" for AIDS prevention curriculum and instruction (and related health education units)

2. Recommend to the DCS Board of Education that these "Community Standards" should be utilized as the basis for developing AIDS prevention curriculum and related curriculum for grade 8 Health and grade 10 Health Education classes

3. Curriculum and instruction is our focus, not personnel

B. We again welcomed the public who attended the meeting and let them know that there would be a portion of the agenda for public comments.

II. Review of Minutes of Meeting of 10/24/07
 

A. Correction.  We made the following correction:  Page 2.  We again made a correction which we had made to our October 16, 2007 minutes.  This correction is as follows:

"Display of contraceptives.  It was agreed that contraceptives should be displayed, but not demonstrated.  Furthermore, actual pictures of genitals, including videos or otherwise, should not be displayed.  Appropriate hand-drawn or textbook anatomy diagrams of genitals are okay for display, but not actual pictures in grade 8 or grade 10 Health Education classes."

The minutes were otherwise approved as is.

III. Discussion of Opt-Out Provisions for students enrolled in 8th grade and 10th grade Health Education classes
 

1. We reviewed Commissioner Regulation 135.3 as to the right of "parents or legal guardian to have their children opt out of HIV/AIDS education".  Opt out for students is only for AIDS prevention education.  According to Commissioner Regulation 135.3, AIDS education should, at a minimum, provide accurate information concerning the nature of the disease, methods of transmission, and methods of prevention.  No pupil shall be required to receive instruction concerning the methods of prevention of AIDS if the parent or legal guardian of such pupil has filed with the principal of the school which the pupil attends a written request that the pupil not participate in such instruction with an assurance that the pupil will receive such instruction at home.  Such exempt pupils, however, are still required to receive instruction concerning the nature of the disease and methods of transmission.

2. It was agreed that all parents of students in 8th grade and 10th grade Health Education classes should be notified of this opt-out option.

3. Kathy Sinesi stated that in a discussion that she had with Owen Donavon of the State Education Department, that the committee can make other recommendations regarding the AIDS prevention curriculum in addition to specific recommendations dealing specifically with AIDS prevention.

IV. Textbooks for Grade 8 and Grade 10 Health Education Classes
 

A. The committee reaffirmed its decision that a textbook should be identified for the 8th grade health course and likewise a different textbook should be identified for use with the 10th grade health education course.

B. The committee that actually writes the curriculum for these courses will be involved with such textbook selection, with ultimate approval from the Board of Education.

C. We have had available for the committee at all our meetings sample textbooks that are available for health education instruction for 8th and 10th grades.  Committee members are invited to borrow any of these textbooks for their own review.

D. Shawn Skeele indicated that he feels that the "textbooks are good -- but these textbooks lack the character education aspect."  He recommended Thomas Lacona of Cortland State as a good source of curriculum information regarding character education.

E. It was noted that the committee has clearly emphasized throughout these meetings and these minutes that "character education" is an important aspect of AIDS prevention education and related issues (human sexuality), and such character education should be emphasized and included as part of the curriculum.

V. Review of all the committee's recommendations
 

A. Mr. Sharpe distributed a compilation of all minutes from the three previous committee meetings with all information, including all of the committee's recommendations for the curriculum and instruction of AIDS prevention education and related issues (human sexuality).

B. The committee then agreed to summarize all these recommendations and the following list was compiled. (see VI)

VI. Summary of proposed “Community Standards” recommended by this committee to serve as the foundation for curriculum and instruction of AIDS Prevention Education and related issues (Human Sexuality)
 

1. Parent Communication.  It is very important that any teacher of Health Education 8 and Health Education 10 must have very open communication with parents as to all curriculum and instruction taking place in these courses.  This includes keeping parents informed at least four weeks in advance of units of instruction which will be taught involving AIDS prevention and/or human sexuality.

2. Abstinence.  The curriculum and instruction needs to emphasize that abstinence is the only 100% safe means of preventing AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases, and pregnancy.

3. Character Education.  Character education and appropriate decision-making skills need to be an integral part of the health education curriculum, including instruction regarding AIDS prevention and human sexuality.  When students are old enough to make responsible choices, they also need to understand the options available other than abstinence (contraceptives).

4. AIDS Prevention and Prevention of Other Sexually Transmitted Diseases.  Health Education courses should provide students with appropriate information to help students better understand these diseases and avoid contracting any of these diseases.

5. The following should not be taught in Health Education classes:
 

a. Date Rape Trial should not be used in 8th grade Health Education classes; should not be taught in 10th grade health classes without serious preliminary steps to make sure that such a simulation is used appropriately and does not sensationalize negative behavior.  It was agreed that there are probably better ways to deal with the issues than a date rape trial (for instance, bringing in a victim to speak to the class and discuss these issues).

b. Masturbation

6. Abortion.  It should be discussed, but as part of the "Human Sexuality" unit and in a fair, factual, objective manner.

7. Condoms.  When discussion of how to use condoms is to take place, demonstrations or graphic displays should not take place.  Honest, factual information should be presented.

8. Dental Dams.  No displays or demonstrations should take place for any contraceptive methods.  It is okay for instruction to provide the facts, including the fact that none of these contraceptives are 100% effective.  Only abstinence is 100% effective as to preventing AIDS, STDs, or pregnancy.

9. Use of Outside Resources (such as speakers from outside agencies, Student Medical Services participating in instruction of the AIDS prevention curriculum).  Use of any resource person (guest speaker) in any classroom should be cleared with the appropriate school authorities (usually the principal).

10. STD Internet Assignments.  These should be carefully structured and monitored in order that students do not have to look up graphic or obscene pictures.

11. Several committee members expressed concern that there is a need for the instruction of "human sexuality" in 8th and 10th grade Health Education classes; that is, a need to discuss other issues which "relate" to AIDS prevention in the curriculum.  These would appear to fall into the category of "Human Sexuality Instruction."

12. Curriculum and Textbooks.  There should be a distinct and age-appropriate curriculum for Grade 8 Health Education and Grade 10 Health Education.  Each of these courses should be supported with an appropriate textbook.

13. Decision-making.  A unit on "decision-making" should be taught prior to any instruction involving the reproductive system, HIV/AIDS, and STDs.

14. Parent Notification.  Parents need to be notified at least four weeks prior (such notification should be mailed home four weeks in advance) to instruction in Health Education classes dealing with AIDS prevention education or units of human sexuality (including the reproductive system, AIDS prevention, HIV, and STDs).  Parents should be given the opportunity to review movies related to these units.

15. Display of Contraceptives.  It was agreed that contraceptives should be displayed, but not demonstrated.  Furthermore, actual pictures of genitals, including videos or otherwise, should not be displayed.  Appropriate hand-drawn or textbook anatomy diagrams of genitals are okay for display, but not actual pictures in grade 8 or grade 10 health classes.  It is okay for instruction to provide the facts, including the fact that none of these contraceptives are 100% effective, that only abstinence is 100% effective as to preventing AIDS, STDs or pregnancy.

16. All units of Health Education instruction should utilize a positive approach and focus on the facts, and should not sensationalize nor over-dramatize any issues of health education instruction.

VII. Other Issues Discussed
 

A. How will we know that these "community standards" are actually being used as a basis for the Health Education curriculum and instruction?
 

1. We discussed various ways of "measuring" whether this was happening.
 

• Parent communication
• The Madison County Drug & Alcohol Survey of Students
• Statistics possibly available through SMS (STD rates, etc.)

2. The administration and teachers involved will continue to research what means are available for such measurement.

3. It was also noted by several committee members that the school itself is not necessarily responsible for what statistics may show regarding AIDS, STDs, unwanted pregnancies, etc.  Obviously, there are other factors which influence students in regard to these issues.

B. What will be the process now that the Council has completed its task (recommending community standards to the Board of Education)?

 
1. On November 15th, the Board of Education will be provided these proposed Community Standards.

2. Once the Board reviews these proposed Community Standards, the Board will decide what should be the appropriate community standards.  Then, the Board will direct the administration to begin the process of developing health education curriculum based on those community standards.

3. The administration will gather a team of teachers for the purpose of writing Health Education curriculum based on those community standards.  The District Planning Team, an important proponent of DCS curriculum writing, will be consulted as this curriculum is assembled.

4. The Board of Education will ultimately review, amend as needed, and approve this curriculum.

C. The AIDS Community Advisory Council has completed its task as it was directed by the Board of Education.  It is now providing to the Board of Education recommendations of "Community Standards" for the curriculum and instruction of AIDS prevention education and human sexuality.
 

1. Several committee members did express concern that there are still other issues involving the health education curriculum that they would like addressed.

2. As the committee has previously discussed, such issues should be referred to the High School Principal (many of which already have been, and which the district is currently reviewing).

3. The administrators are currently reviewing these issues and will determine what further action and input is needed.

VIII. Public Comments
 

A. Mary Kay Harris suggested that in terms of the "opt-out issue" as to parents choosing to not have their students participate in AIDS prevention education, that permission slips should be sent to all parents of these students involved with the 8th or 10th grade Health Education courses when this particular unit is taught.  This then clearly allows ALL parents the opportunity to choose to allow their student to participate or to opt out.

B. Derek Sinesi thanked all the committee members for taking the time and effort to develop these Community Standards.

C. Walter Priest (Director of Operations, Family Health Network) praised the committee for the "great process" that it has used in developing these Community Standards.  He stated that Family Health Network (of which Student Medical Services is a part) wants to collaborate with the committee and with the community and work together in regard to these Community Standards.  He further stated that Student Medical Services strongly encourages and promotes students talking with and working with their parents as to the decision-making process involved with the issues that the committee has been discussing.  However, public health law does allow "mature minors" rights, including the right not to talk to their parents regarding some of these issues.  He emphasized that any such discussion by Student Medical Services with students take place only in the setting of the SMS clinic (as permitted by state health law).

D. Lisa Loomis (Student Medical Services) stated that the situation in DeRuyter (attempting to determine community standards) is not "unique to DeRuyter Central School."  She is aware of other districts dealing with similar issues.  She also stated that SMS does not offer nor provide contraceptives in school; no contraceptives are distributed through SMS in school.  SMS strongly promotes and encourages parent/student communication/discussion regarding these issues.  She reminded the committee that the district has had in the past a very active Health/Wellness Committee which she would like to see becoming more active again, and that this committee is open for membership from people in the community.