Othello School District officials are forming a committee to review possible materials for a new sex education curriculum.

School Board chair Mike Garza said board members might hold a community forum to discuss curriculum options, when that’s allowed.

Washington legislators passed SB 5395, which mandates a sex education curriculum for all schools, during the 2020 legislative session. The legislation was submitted for an advisory vote during the 2020 general election, and unofficial results show it approved. Currently, the referendum has been approved by about 2.23 million voters statewide, about 58%, and rejected by 1.6 million, or about 42%.

But, said board member Jenn Stevenson, in Adams County about 70% of the voters have rejected it. However, a district-wide curriculum was discussed at the regular school board meeting Nov. 9.

Hurst said the curriculum won’t be implemented until the 2022-23 school year, which gives the district – and district parents – time to study the options. District officials want to start with the curriculum committee, he said. District officials want as much involvement as possible from parents, students, staff and district patrons, Hurst said.

While it’s important to listen to the community and its preferences, he said, the curriculum must be in compliance with the requirements in the law. Hurst said he thinks it’s possible to meet both those goals. He added the goal is to get the committee started as soon as possible under direction of Amy Parris, with the district’s teaching and learning department.

Garza said that given the subject, a lot of people are going to want to be on the committee – maybe too many people, in fact. He’s received inquiries and talked with district patrons already, he said, so district officials will have to make sure the community is part of the adoption process.

People who want to volunteer for the committee can contact Amy Parris at [email protected].

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].