If you attended one of the public hearings and/or provided  feedback via an email to the district on the proposed changes, Thank You. 

After reviewing the School Code Act (MCL 380.1507) it has been determined the Otsego Board of Education needs to develop an administrative guideline that aligns to MCL 380.1507 and addresses the following components in the guideline. 

1. Determine terms of service for the sex education advisory board.

2. The number of members to serve on the advisory board.

3. A membership selection process that reasonably reflects the school district population.

4. Appoint 2 co-chairs for the advisory board, at least 1 of whom is a parent of a child attending a school operated by the school district. 

5. Ensure 1/2 of the members of the sex education advisory board shall be parents who have a child attending a school operated by the school district. 

6. A majority of these parent members shall be individuals who are not employed by a school district. 

7. The Board of Education shall include pupils of the school district, educators, local clergy, and community health professionals on the sex education advisory board.

8.  Written or electronic notice of a sex education advisory board meeting shall be sent to each member at least 2 weeks before the date of the meeting. 

9. The advisory board shall do all of the following:

    (a) Establish program goals and objectives for pupil knowledge and skills that are likely to reduce the rates of sex, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases. This subdivision does not prohibit a school district from establishing additional program goals and objectives that are not contrary to this section, section 1169, or section 1507b.

     (b) Review the materials and methods of instruction used and make recommendations to the board of the school district for implementation. The 

advisory board shall take into consideration the school district's needs, demographics, and trends, including, but not limited to, teenage pregnancy rates, sexually transmitted disease rates, and incidents of student sexual violence and harassment.

     (c) At least once every 2 years, evaluate, measure, and report the attainment of program goals and objectives established under subdivision (a). The board of a school district shall make the resulting report available to parents in the school district.

The district will not be moving forward with the proposed changes to the 6th grade reproductive health unit and will begin the process of developing this administrative guideline in June. Any future reproductive health unit proposals will need to go through this board-appointed advisory committee. 

Again, thank you for your attendance and feedback.

Sincerely,

Jeff Haase 
Superintendent of Schools