WARDEN — The Warden School Board unanimously approved a resolution Thursday stating the district’s opposition to two legislative bills. 

The bills in question are House Bill 2331, modifying requirements for public school instructional and supplemental instructional materials and Senate Bill 5462, promoting inclusive learning standards and instructional materials in public schools.

Board member Bryce Cox spoke about the bills. 

“I've been a little bit involved in this. It started as we looked at these bills coming through. I'm seeing this across the state, not just in Grant County, but losing local control is a big deal,” Cox said. “It's why we're elected; we feel that we do know the individuals in this community. We know what they want, and things like that. To have someone else dictate that from the outside is not what we want. So that's where this is all coming from.”

During the meeting, Superintendent Scott West commented on the resolution and other districts in Grant County.

“I found out today that all districts in Grant County are going to be filing the exact same resolution, which helps protect the local control of the school boards in the selection process of curriculums and materials,” West said.

The resolution’s official language elaborates on the motivation behind the district’s opposition.

“The Warden School District Board of Directors does not believe curriculum should

be consulted on by activist state commissions pushing sexual agendas and politics and subverting the vote of the local community,” the statement says. 

House Education Committee staff member Ethan Moreno summarized SB 5462 when it was first introduced to the legislature in January 2023.

“(The Washington State School Directors Association), with the assistance of the (Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction), must review and update a model policy and procedure regarding course design, selection, and adoption of instructional materials,” Moreno said. “The model policy and procedure must require that school boards adopt inclusive curricula and select diverse, equitable, inclusive and age-appropriate instructional materials that include histories, contributions and perspectives of historically marginalized and underrepresented groups.”

Moreno also said the bill requires OSPI to review and update relevant state learning standards at all grade levels to include the histories, contributions and perspectives of LGBTQ people.

“School boards, rather than establishing final curriculum standards, are instead directed to adopt curricula that are consistent with applicable laws and requirements, including the WASDA model policy and procedure on inclusive curriculum,” he said. 

The bill also requires Education Service Districts to establish a regional youth advisory council for inclusive curricula and designate a regional inclusive curricula coordinator.

“Duties are prescribed for the coordinator, including helping districts implement the WASDA model policy and procedure on inclusive curricula, and ensuring that diversity, equity, and inclusion are interwoven throughout curricula and not treated as standalone topics,” Moreno said. 

SB 5462 passed 29-19 on the Senate floor and is currently being discussed in the House.

“The Warden School District Board of Directors strongly opposes ESB 5462,” Warden’s resolution says, “as it subverts local school boards elected to consult and adhere to adopted policy and procedure, and in so doing, seek public comment from local voters, engage in community dialogue, and make decisions about instructional materials that reflect a commitment to the work of the professionals in their system and the voice of people in their community. 

Warden’s resolution also states HB 2331 further inhibits local school boards’ authority.

“This approach to governance elevates state influence in local policy decisions over local governance structures codified in statute, violating the purpose and diminishing the importance of elected school boards,” the statement says.

Rep. Monica Stonier, D-Vancouver, HB 2331’s sponsor, outlined the bill's intended purpose during a Jan. 23 public hearing. 

“This bill seeks to underscore the requirement to comply with the anti-discriminatory practices when adopting curriculum,” Stonier said, “but furthermore the bill seeks to ensure that in cases where a book is removed from a classroom or a school library, it first follows a process that ensures that student and family concerns are addressed but without imposing those restrictions on other learners.”

HB 2331 passed the House floor Feb. 10 with a vote of 58-39, and passed the Senate on Feb. 22 with a vote of 29-20.

Gabriel Davis may be reached at gdavis@columbiabasinherald.com. Download the Columbia Basin Herald app on iOS and Android.

    Warden School District Superintendent Scott West participates in a March 2023 board meeting at Warden High School. West and members of the Warden School Board discussed ongoing legislative proposals setting requirements regarding inclusive curriculum and learning standards during Thursday’s board meeting.
  

    An aerial photo of Warden School District. Members of the Warden School Board voted unanimously Thursday to adopt a resolution stating the district’s opposition to two legislative bills.