UPDATE: 2:30 p.m., October 15, 2021
The San Dieguito Union High School District Board pulled an item about the controversial and often misrepresented issue of critical race theory from its agenda Thursday night.
The district does not currently use critical race theory and there are no plans to teach it in the future.
Board trustees decided a resolution to amend the district’s current Controversial Issues policy was not appropriate in its current form.
“I do believe that talking about race and racism is a very important topic inside a classroom. It’s how we identify with ourselves,” said Trustee Katrina Young. “We need to be sure that we are doing it in a respectful and compassionate way. But I don’t see the language as presented here, representative of what we hope to do.”
Also Thursday night, the Board approved and hired its new Superintendent, Dr. Cheryl James-Ward, who will begin November 1st.
Original story:
The San Dieguito Union High School District Board of Trustees is meeting Thursday evening with an agenda that includes a final vote to hire a new Superintendent. The board is also taking on the controversial and often misrepresented issue of critical race theory.
The school district has an established policy on Controversial Issues designed to protect students from inappropriate curriculum and other information. At Thursday night’s meeting they will hear public comment and then vote on an amendment to the policy. The amendment reads:
"Instruction shall not teach or include Critical Race Theory as part of the curriculum, instruction or educational materials. Critical Race Theory is not required by the State Board of Education as part of any of its content standards or framework."
Critical Race Theory is not required by the state, and is currently only taught in law schools and other higher education institutions. However, Ethnic Studies curriculums are becoming a requirement for graduation.
Maria Figueroa is a parent in the San Dieguito district. Her 15-year old son is in 10th grade at San Dieguito Academy. She told KPBS that appropriate ethnic studies of minority history gets lost in the confusion over Critical Race Theory. She said, “There’s plenty of research that demonstrates that students that engage in this study do well on their academic journey.”
The San Dieguito Board is also voting to hire a new Superintendent. She is Dr. Cheryl James-Ward current CEO and principal of the e3 Civic High Charter School in downtown San Diego.
