Coconino News

Tensions escalated during a recent meeting of the Flagstaff Unified School District (FUSD) as concerned parents and school officials clashed over proposed modifications to the district's Social/Sexual Health Curriculum, which includes plans to introduce gender ideology to elementary students. 

The Flagstaff Unified School District (FUSD) has considered introducing gender ideology to children as young as 10 years old, diverging from traditional biological norms. 

This contentious proposal surfaced during a public meeting where officials deliberated changes to the Social/Sexual Health Curriculum for fifth graders. 

Superintendent Michael Penca and FUSD board president Christine Fredericks. | FUSD

During the April 23 meeting, Flagstaff resident Phil Goldblatt voiced his objections to the program, citing concerns about its political nature and arguing that schools should not engage in political indoctrination. 

“The subject of sex education is more the responsibility of parents or caregivers, not public schools,” Goldbaltt said. 

“Also, religious educators and faith leaders are more of a place where moral values and are instilled in students. It seems these days that the whole subject of what constitutes a broadly educated, morally, ethically and responsible citizen is up for grabs. It should not be.” 

“Teaching the basics is all that is required of public schools. Not school or identity politics. This program is no doubt a Trojan horse for indoctrination of kids into a political worldview that is not really helpful.” 

However, when Goldblatt began quoting biblical verses to support his arguments, an off-camera voice, purportedly belonging to School Board President Christine Fredericks, requested that he refrain from citing religious references in a public institution setting. 

“The pursuit of knowledge itself is a God given attribute of most people, especially young people,” Goldblatt said. “If I may quote several verses in the Bible, we can see why it was faith institution to leaders to make education available.” 

To which the FUSD member responded, “This is a public institution, if you wouldn't mind, please, skipping over the biblical references.” 

The proposed changes were not voted on, but were discussed at the meeting. 

Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction, Lance Huffman, clarified the district's stance, stating that while not mandated by Arizona law, FUSD voluntarily includes sexual health education in its curriculum, deeming it crucial for student development. 

“What we do is deliver sexual health curriculum to, fifth graders, seventh graders, ninth graders and 11th graders will be recommending a little bit of a change to that,” Huffman said. 

Colleen Hopkins, along with several other parents, emerged as vocal dissenters, expressing reservations about involving younger students in sexual education. 

Hopkins who said she is “on the opposite side of the school district” emphasized the importance of sex education but highlighted concerns about potential confusion, citing her own childhood experiences as an example. 

“My stance. What I would like to not see,” Hopkins told board members. “The young ones have to be a part of their sexual ed. I think sexual education is important. However, I find it confusing.” 

“I can get in a story about myself – when I was a young child, maybe in fifth grade I was more of a tomboy, definitely. Also feminine but I would have thought that was fun if I could choose my gender. So I feel like it could be confusing for some people.” 

Coconino County Public Health Educator Sydney Tolchinsky suggested that traditional gender distinctions should be abandoned, asserting that boys can menstruate while some girls may not. 

“In my own experience in the smaller charter schools and county schools, we have actually stopped doing anything different [in] the boys’ room and the girls’ room,” Tolchinsky said, according to Alliance Defeneding Freedom Legal. “Because Arizona still wants ‘two rooms,’ we tell them to go where they’re comfortable, and we teach the same lesson in both rooms because there are boys with periods, [and] there are girls who will not get periods.”

Huffman showed no objection to this notion, and Health Services Coordinator McKenzie Bevirt supported removing gender-specific language from lessons. 

FUSD has also promoted gender ideology through initiatives such as a "Name Change Clinic" advertised on school websites.

Despite parental concerns about the lack of transparency and consultation, School Board President Fredericks has adopted a combative stance, challenging parents to "bring it on" as the board pushes the controversial sex ed curriculum.  

Fredericks' confrontational approach has further fueled the divide between the board and parents.

The meeting, advertised as open to the public, attracted significant attention from concerned parents and community members. 

The meeting was one of a series of hearings announced after parents and community members expressed concerns about the inclusion of "trans-affirming" content in elementary school sex education programs at FUSD.

The school district's proposed changes to its curriculum and policies regarding sex education and transgenderism have sparked controversy among parents concerned about their children's safety.

The hearings will provide an opportunity for community members to express their views, either in person or through written comments.

“I am aware that you are soliciting comments from Superintendent Michael Penca for your story about Flagstaff Unified School District's Sexual Health Education Curriculum,” Lance Huffman, Assistant Superintendent Curriculum and Instruction for Flagstaff Unified School District told Coconino News in an email.

"[...] this communication below was sent to our families, letting them know about the upcoming public hearings scheduled for April 23, 2024, and June 25, 2024.”

“At this point, this is the only comment we will provide to you on this topic at this time.”

Huffman included the email sent by FUSD's Superintendent Penca. The public meetings will be held at 5 p.m. on April 23, 2024, and June 25, 2024 at the FUSD Administrative Center located at 3285 E Sparrow Ave, Flagstaff, AZ 86004. 

“Dear FUSD Families,” Penca said in the message to the school community. “Notice is hereby given to the members of the Flagstaff Unified School District (FUSD) and the general public that the Flagstaff Unified School District Governing Board will hold Public Hearings for Sexual Health Education Curriculum Review.”

"Public comment may be made at the public hearings or written comments may be submitted here. 

Written comments, submitted by noon on the date of the public hearings, will be provided to the Governing Board for review, but will not be read aloud during public hearings."

At an earlier school board meeting on Feb. 23, parents voiced objections to the proposed updates, which include altering language in policies and allowing students to attend sex education classes designated for the opposite sex. 

Board President Fredericks defended the changes.

“I will never apologize for being inclusive,” Fredericks said. “I will never apologize for doing what’s right for our students.”

Concerns were raised among parents after reports emerged about flyers promoting a "Name Change Clinic" for transgender or gender nonconforming students at DeMiguel Elementary School.

Parent David Skousen, whose child attends DeMiguel Elementary School, brought up the issue at the Feb. 23 meeting.

“I wasn't the only parent concerned,” he said. “I started to express concerns about this and when we did, we sent a call to our principals and to the school district. I got a explanation that this in each is not something that the school puts on. But I also have a picture here that says that all flyers will be vetted and only things that the school board agrees with will be sent out to parents. I didn't get any response from the school board. I think that's very upsetting. I think that we're entitled to an explanation. And if we're upset, an apology. Because I don't think that things like this a name change clinic."


“So it says, ‘are you a trans, gender non-conforming individual and need help legally changing your name?’ Does the name change clinic will have one on one legal consultation? Children of all ages.”

“So this is inviting my 10-year -old son to go legally change his name. And I don't think that this is something that needs to be run through the schools. This isn't about our personal beliefs leaving our kids out of it and making sure that they're getting the education that they need.”

“I would like assurances that things like critical race theory and talking about transgenderism and their sexuality in elementary school isn't going to make it into the curriculum. And so I just want to let you guys know that if that does, this room will be much more full. I will in full opposition to that.”

The proposed changes include revising district policies to transition from binary gender terminology ("boy/girl") to more encompassing language ("people"), permitting students to participate in sex education courses tailored for the opposite gender and ensuring that the curriculum integrates gender-fluid ideology to promote "inclusivity."

Parents are dismayed over what they perceive as the exclusion of parental input and the prioritization of political agendas over students' education and well-being. Some are even considering homeschooling as a response to what they see as a shift in classroom priorities.

Tony Kinnett, reporting for the Daily Signal, also noted that when a parent proposed inviting more parents to the upcoming meetings, Fredericks responded in a less than agreeable manner.

When parents promised the community would show up to defend their kids—Board President Christine Fredericks responded, ‘Bring it on,’” Kinnett said on X.