Temecula School Board Approves Controversial Elementary School Curriculum
In a late-night meeting held on Friday, July 21, the Temecula Valley Unified School District board finally approved a new social studies curriculum for elementary school students. The curriculum had previously been rejected twice, sparking a feud between the school board and California Governor Gavin Newsom. The controversy began when some board members made derogatory comments about LGBTQ activist Harvey Milk during a discussion on the curriculum.
The board voted 4-0 in favor of adopting the TCI Social Studies Alive! curriculum for first- through fifth-graders. However, in a compromise, one of the fourth-grade lessons was postponed for further review due to concerns from conservative board members about its appropriateness for young students.
Governor Newsom expressed his satisfaction with the board’s decision, stating that students will now have the necessary materials to learn. However, Newsom also criticized the board members who opposed the curriculum, claiming that their motives were not about parents’ rights or Harvey Milk, but rather their desire to control information and censor educational materials.
The approval of the curriculum has now triggered a civil rights investigation by the state education department into the Temecula school district.
Board president Joseph Komrosky, a member of the conservative bloc, proposed the motion to approve the curriculum. However, he also suggested replacing one of the fourth-grade lessons with a topic more aligned with the board’s commitment to exclude sexualized content from elementary school instruction.
Another board member, Jen Wiersma, proposed an alternative plan to purchase additional books from the district’s existing 17-year-old social studies curriculum. She argued that these books complied with state law and educational standards, providing a short-term resolution while strategic policies were reviewed.
However, the district’s attorney advised against Wiersma’s proposal, stating that it would violate California education code, which requires substantial teacher involvement, as well as input from parents and the community, in the selection of instructional materials.
While critics of the TCI curriculum urged the board to reject it and defy Governor Newsom, others criticized the board for failing to adopt a new curriculum sooner.
The school board’s conservative majority’s opposition to the curriculum has led some to accuse them of wanting to exclude LGBTQ Americans and their contributions from history. Governor Newsom warned the board that if they did not approve the new curriculum, he would send textbooks directly to the Temecula schools. He also supports legislation that could impose a $1.5 million fine on the district for not having the appropriate educational materials.
Despite the escalating controversy surrounding the board’s decision, President Komrosky maintained a defiant stance towards Governor Newsom, emphasizing his responsibility to provide an education for the district’s students.
The approval of the curriculum marks a significant development in the ongoing debate between the board’s conservative majority and Governor Newsom. The investigation by the state education department will determine whether the board’s actions violated civil rights laws.
As the school year approaches, tensions remain high, and the community waits to see the long-term implications of the board’s decision.
