The community will have the opportunity next week to take a look
at a curriculum for 7th and 9th grade students designed to erase
harassment based on sexual orientation or gender identity among
Morgan Hill School District students.
The community will have the opportunity next week to take a look at a curriculum for 7th and 9th grade students designed to erase harassment based on sexual orientation or gender identity among Morgan Hill School District students.
Two forums will be held: the first at Live Oak High, 1505 East Main Ave., in the science lecture hall on Dec. 7, 7-9pm; the second at Britton Middle School, 80 West Central Ave., in the auditorium on Dec. 8, 2-4pm.
The public is invited to attend.
The curriculum will be introduced in the spring only to 7th and 9th grade students.
The curriculum was developed in response to the settlement of the Flores vs. MHSD lawsuit earlier this year.
The lawsuit, alleging a lack of response by district officials to former students’ claims of harassment based on their perceived sexual orientation, was settled when the district agreed to training of district employees and once-a-year training for 7th and 9th graders.
The district also agreed to a financial settlement of $1.1 million – $560,000 to be divided among the former students plus $540,000 in attorney’s fees.
The students involved in the lawsuit had accused the district of failing to protect them from harassment by fellow students over a period of years.
The students, through their original attorney, Diane Ritchie, have always maintained that their primary objective was not obtaining sums of money but to secure appropriate training so future students perceived to be gay would have an easier time in school.
School officials noted tthe training will not discuss sex and is not a sex-education program.
“The focus will be on preventing physical and verbal harassment or abuse,” former board President George Panos said earlier this year.
“It will better define and clarify forms of harassment against students and staff based on their sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation. It will specify that name calling, profanity, lewd gestures and vulgar jokes are forms of harassment, as are inappropriate touching and bullying.
All are unacceptable in a safe school environment and cannot be tolerated.”
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. She can be reached by e-mail at md****@mo*************.com or phoning (408) 779-4106 Ext. 202.
