Weatherford ISD July School Board Update

Texas public schools are required to teach an abstinence-based program within their human sexuality curriculum according to Texas Education Code 28.004(h). The law further states that the School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) is required to annually review the human sexuality curriculum and provide recommendations regarding this instruction to the Board of Trustees. The SHAC consists primarily of parents from each of our Weatherford ISD schools in order to reflect the values of our community and also includes school counselors, curriculum personnel, and a school nurse.

To comply with Texas law, Weatherford ISD uses the Worth the Wait curriculum developed by the Baylor Scott and White Health System. The Worth the Wait curriculum emphasizes abstinence as well as healthy habits and relationships, healthy choices, and personal safety. This curriculum is used by more than 200 school districts across the state and is presented to our 6th grade students in gender separated classes by school counselors in a series of 10 lessons each spring. At the July regular meeting of the Weatherford ISD Board of Trustees, school board members voted to accept the recommendations of the SHAC to implement the Worth the Wait curriculum as written, reflecting a change within one lesson from the way it has been presented to students in previous years. This change adopts the full vocabulary within Lesson 4 of the program.

Weatherford ISD will provide multiple opportunities to inform parents about this curriculum. Parents or guardians of 6th grade students will receive a mailed letter with information about the course and campus personnel will give an overview of the material and make the curriculum available for review at several scheduled fall parent meetings. Weatherford ISD will also continue to offer parents the opportunity to “opt out” of their child’s participation in all or parts of this instruction.

“Weatherford ISD has used the Worth the Wait curriculum for the past ten years. This program presents factual information and emphasizes abstinence,” said Dr. Jeffrey Hanks, WISD superintendent. “We understand that parents may have questions about this course. Our desire is to provide parents the information they need to make informed decisions about their child’s education.”

Rise Program

The Board of Trustees approved a proposal for the Rise Program – an Optional Flexible School Day Program (OFSDP) for Weatherford High School. The goal of the program is to improve graduation rates for students who are in danger of dropping out of school, have dropped out, or are behind in core subject courses. The OFSDP allows districts to provide flexible hours and days of attendance for students who meet at least one of the requirements of the Texas Education Code 29.0822(a).

Campus Handbooks

Per Weatherford ISD Policy FN(LOCAL), the Board of Trustees reviewed the Campus Handbook for the 2016-2017 school year. This year Weatherford ISD has combined the elementary and secondary handbooks into one campus handbook. This handbook will be posted on the Weatherford ISD website within the week. Printed copies are available on request by a parent/guardian.

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Published July 22, 2016 Print