Parents Concerned about Films Assigned at Houston High School

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Several Houston parents addressed the Houston School Board during the public comment period of the regular board meeting on May 7. Parents were given two minutes each to address the board.

Susan Rosendahl pointed out that parents were not notified before the film “The Ugly Stepsister” was assigned. She felt the film was pornography and was concerned that there was no vetting process in place at the school. According to Rosendahl, assigning students an “R” or unrated film violates school policy. She said she was handed a hastily created policy when she spoke with administration.

Chad Rosendahl added that this concerns the psychological health of minors and noted that an email offering alternative films was reactive. He commented, “Teachers have no guidelines or policy about this to go by. Children are left as sitting ducks!”

Jennifer Frey noted that while high school students are mature, the film had graphic and disturbing scenes with explicit sexual themes. The district’s internet policy refers to content that is “blatantly sexual” when mentioning what should not be viewed by students on their computers.

Shannon Peterson described specific details of the film that were offensive and shared that she felt parents wouldn’t expect the school to have students watch such films.

Latisha Witt commented that she had never seen such a film before and quoted an exact line from the film referring explicitly to oral sex.

Later in the meeting, the board was presented with a document titled “Houston High School Instructional Materials Vetting Manual” which had been created April 2. The document was intended to be included in next year’s handbooks upon approval by the board.

Since this document would affect both Houston High School and MNVA, board member Arlin Peterson felt it was necessary to review the current policies at both schools.

Mimi Carlson asked what the criteria would be for using the suggested form. Lisa Schultz cautioned that they don’t want to get into the position where they would be banning books; she suggested the policy be applied to the new curriculum.

The board considered this the first reading of the policy and will do a second reading at their next meeting.

Curriculum Updates

High School Principal John Cassellius presented a PowerPoint with new curriculum offerings at Houston HIgh School. One of the offerings was a class called Senior Seminar. According to Cassellius, the class was required for graduation. The class would be offered in the fall semester only and would address job shadowing, interviews, FAFSA forms and also cover careers and military.

Career Pathways would no longer be offered to younger students. Cassellius shared that the topics from that class are addressed in the advisory classes. A ninth grade job shadowing class would still be offered.

Mimi Carlson asked if there would be a phase-in time for students who had already taken Career Pathways.  Carlson was concerned that PSEO students might not be able to fit this in their schedules for the upcoming year. She asked if there was a college class that was equivalent or if MNVA had such an online offering.

Lisa Schultz commented that board approval should have been requested before offering the class to students. Superintendent Mary Morem agreed that the class should have come for board approval first.

Ultimately, the board decided the Senior Seminar class should not be a required class for graduation, but rather be “highly suggested” for the class of 2027.

Morem suggested that Senior Seminar be placed on the December 2026 board agenda at which point the board could decide whether to make the class mandatory for the following year. Board chair Josh Norlien shared that he thought the class had a lot of merit.

Cassellius shared information about concurrent classes offered at Houston including biology, algebra and introduction to public speaking. Nickki Johnson asked to make sure there was transparency about whether such classes are accepted at specific colleges.

Specialized electives and CTE offerings such as ethnics studies, EMT, digital art, entrepreneurship, hospitality and foods II were presented. PE and wellness classes such as outdoor education and team sports will also be available.

An ag teacher has recently been hired. Some of the ag offerings will be taught every other year.

Nickki Johnson asked if study halls were going away. She was assured that seventh through ninth graders will continue to have study hall every other day while 10th through 12th graders can choose to have study halls all year, first or second semester only or none at all.

Other Business

In other business the board:

•Approved insurance vendors at the cost of $217,310 for next year;

•Accepted donations totalling $3, 398;

•Approved participation in MSHSL for next year;

•Congratulated Hurricane Heroes Rebecca Swedberg and D’Vontai Brocks. Swedberg is the new curriculum director and assessment coordinator. Brocks is a positive role model who works as a teacher’s aide at the elementary school.