MONUMENT — The Lewis-Palmer School District will not take part in a new statewide comprehensive sex education program, after issuing a resolution regarding local control this week. The bill had some new aspects added into it, that prohibit excluding the health needs of the LGBTQ community and teaching students about the concept of consent. Those on the District 38 School Board said they will continue to use their existing sex education program for freshmen at the two high schools, and the decision was not about sex education but about local control.
HB19-1032 was signed into law this May, and goes into effect this school year.
News 5 met two twins who are currently in eighth grade at Lewis-Palmer Middle School. Next year, the two girls and their parents will decide whether or not to partake in a sex education course during their freshman year. "It might be awkward but I think it'd be beneficial for us to know," said Hayden Moler, one of the twins.
Hayden also said they are fortunate to have their mother to talk to about any questions they may have. "They answer my questions, I think that's a way to put it, when I need it, and I'm lucky to have that. But not all kids have that," said Hayden.
Shannon Moler, their mother, said it's important to start these discussions with children. "I really, really think that you can't sugarcoat it, things are happening, and these kids need to be informed, and sometimes they're not comfortable talking to their parents," said Shannon.
School District 38 has decided not to take the grant money to provide the comprehensive sex education program from the state. School Board Member Mark Pfoff said it's about taking a stand against the state, not sex education. "Why is the state mandating our curriculum, because that's in a violation of our state constitution... This is a constitutional issue that needs to be resolved by the Colorado Supreme Court," said Pfoff, who said he is the longest serving board member on the Lewis-Palmer School Board.
Pfoff said the vast majority of parents that reached out to him did not want the new comprehensive program taught to their children. "We already have our own, we've been teaching sex ed at Lewis-Palmer for a long time, very successfully," said Pfoff.
News 5 spoke with both state senate sponsors of the bill, before it was made law, and they said they were actually trying to give control back to local communities, because they can all choose whether or not they want to partake in the grant.
