Nye trustees will consider committee to review district’s sex education curriculum

Nye County school trustees are expected to consider appointing a committee that will review sex education curriculum at their June 15 meeting in Pahrump, according to the board’s agenda.

State policies outline that each Nevada school district establish an advisory panel comprising parents, a health professional, a teacher, a counselor, a student and a religious leader. The advisory panel largely defines what’s appropriate to teach district local students when it comes to sex, but the panel must offer framework for a course that instructs them about reproduction, HIV and other communicable diseases.

Brittney Varao, director of curriculum and instruction for the district is expected to provide an overview of Nevada’s standards for sexual education on Thursday night, before trustees consider possible action on appointing a curriculum committee.

Under state policies, all students must obtain permission from their parents or guardians before taking a sexual education course. Teachers are limited to teaching the district’s approved curriculum.

Parents may review their school’s sex-ed curriculum by contacting the administration at their student’s school.

The school board meeting can be live-streamed on the district’s website beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.

UPDATED: This story clarifies an earlier version of what the board will discuss and corrects the date of the board meeting.