Some big issues dominated Tuesday night's San Diego Unified School District board meeting, leading to a, sometimes heated, five hour night.The board voted to hold off on handing out nearly 200 additional pink slips. 1,500 teachers and staff have already been laid off in an effort to deal with a $130 million budget deficit. They will take up the issue at their next meeting, and have until May 11 to come to an agreement on a new contract.
The board did approve a resolution in support of a bill that would prohibit California from doing business with contractors who help build a wall at the US-Mexico border. The board says their support shows that they believe a proposed border wall would do "serious economic, social and environmental harm to its students and the larger San Diego community."
Pink slips weren't the only issue talked about. Some people protested the district's Islamophobia campaign, which is a program that makes teachers and staff aware of when Muslim holidays occur, sets up staff training dealing with Muslim culture and provides resources to students during Ramadan, among other things. Opponents say if the district is making these accommodations for Muslims, it should make them for everyone. Board members were prohibited from responding to the speakers because the item was not officially on the agenda.
Another group protested against the district's current sexual health education program. Nearly 700 people have signed a petition saying the curriculum, which started in October, is "too much, too soon," for students that are as young as 10-years-old.
The board's next meeting is May 9 at 5:00p.m.