Board of Education Considers Updates to Reproductive Health Materials

The Board of Education agreed this week to consider changes to reproductive health materials used in the Berkley School District.

A Health Advisory Committee comprised of parents, BSD staffers and community members has recommended updates to the video and vocabulary used to teach fifth-graders about HIV and AIDS.

"Fifth-grade teachers expressed a need to update the materials," BSD Director of Schools and Human Resources Chris Sandoval said Monday during the Board of Education meeting at the Avery Center.

"The current video being used was produced by Marsh Media in 1997 and the committee felt the language, vocabulary and content of the video is outdated," according to the meeting agenda.

"The committee recommends using an updated video available online through Discovery Education called 'AIDS and HIV, Staying Safe.' The video is approximately 16 minutes long and has an accompanying lesson plan and student follow-up activities," the agenda says. "The second recommendation is to update vocabulary terms used in the lessons to better respond to student questions."

BSD Communications Supervisor Jessica Stilger said the materials are available for parents to review in fifth-grade classrooms.

What's next

• Feb. 4: Board members received the currently used and updated materials and will review them before a study session during which they will have the opportunity to question Health Advisory Committee members.
• Feb. 11: Board members will decide whether to approve the updates during the regular board meeting.