HARBOR SPRINGS — The Harbor Springs Public Schools Board of Education unanimously approved a new curriculum on puberty and HIV/AIDS as part of its scheduled meeting Monday.
Michael Behrmann, superintendent of Harbor Springs Public Schools, said the district really needed to update its materials on the subject, noting that the elementary program was still using a VHS tape.
Every school district in the state of Michigan, Behrmann noted, is required to have HIV/AIDS instruction at the elementary, middle and high school levels, and a Harbor Springs Public Schools advisory board has been meeting since January to review and recommend an updated curriculum. .
According to Behrmann, a total of 22 people showed up between two public meetings required by the state to review sex education curricula. The seven-member advisory board was made up of three parents, a teacher, an administrator, a clergyman, and a teacher.
“It was great to see people show up and want to get involved,” said Behrmann. “They had an opportunity to provide written comments, which were provided to our advisory council.”
Heather Keizer, Principal of Harbor Springs Middle School and Advisory Board Member, presented the board with an overview of changes in curricula at the elementary and middle school levels.
“Our curriculum is out of date,” Keizer said. “It’s been several years since there’s been an update, so we’re looking to move forward with newer, more up-to-date health information and we wanted to come up with a program that builds on what kids are learning at the elementary level in middle school and then secondary levels”.
He explained to the board the recommended changes at the fifth grade level to now be taught at the fourth grade level so students can learn about puberty before it happens to them.
Under the new curriculum organization for 2022-23 and beyond, at the fourth grade level, boys and girls will be separated to watch videos titled “Always Changing and Growing,” while sixth graders will be will show them a video “You and your body”. .
At the seventh grade level, students will be shown four videos titled “Intro to Puberty,” “My Period,” “Intro to Reproduction,” and “Intro to Birth Control.” All lessons on HIV/AIDS will be from the Michigan Health Model curriculum grade level curriculum.
The board asked Keizer if students would remain separated to learn/watch videos after the elementary school years. Keizer said that after much discussion, the committee decided not to separate the students. Additionally, the district opted to have a male and female teacher in the room during curriculum instruction.
“Our committee really has the best interest of our students in mind when making these decisions,” Keizer said. “In fourth grade, we separate the students because it’s the first time we’ve talked about this, but from now on, we want to treat it like any other topic.
“Our goal is to be transparent and objective.”
Keizer said that having been in the school district for 15 years, without an HIV/AIDS education component, which is not a requirement, there would be a huge gap in student instruction.
Keizer added that abstinence needs to be the focus of subject lessons.
“Teachers are expected to make sure students understand that (abstinence is) the only 100 percent effective way to avoid sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy,” Keizer said.
She added that parents have the option of having their child participate in the curriculum, and parents or guardians must sign a permission form to opt their child out of lessons.
Berhmann also thanked the advisory council for their work regarding the curriculum.
“There was a lot of discussion and a lot of serious work,” Behrmann said. “I appreciate his dedication and service, it is greatly appreciated.”