North Bend SD 13 staff preview proposed health curriculum and seek one-year postponement of social studies adoption

District staff told the North Bend SD 13 board on March 5 that the state-adopted options for K–12 health curriculum are limited and described their plan to provide a public preview before bringing a formal adoption recommendation to the board in May.

Staff identified the elementary/middle program Great Body Shop and a high-school program called Live Well as state-adopted options that meet Oregon standards. They said the district will host a public preview of candidate materials at the district office from April 6–23 so families and staff can view curricula and provide feedback; staff emphasized certain lessons also require parental notification and opt-out procedures under Oregon statute.

Board members asked about flexibility for teachers, how the state review (IMAT) limits available options, and whether public feedback could change the district's plan. Staff said they would gather specific parental concerns during the public review and respond before a May adoption vote; they also said the opt-out process remains available for specified lessons.

Separately, the board approved a motion to postpone the district's K–12 social studies adoption by one year (the state provides a multi‑year implementation window). The postponement will allow staff to sequence the social studies adoption after the health and science work and to learn from other districts' early implementations.

Next steps: materials available for public preview April 6–23; formal health-curriculum adoption expected at the May board meeting; social studies adoption delayed one year per the board vote.