Trending
NEW ULM -- Michael and Mary Thom returned to the New Ulm School Board board to accuse the school's PRISM organization of LGBTQ propaganda.
PRISM (Pride Respect Individuality Support Movement) is a student-led organization that provides a safe place for LGBTQ+ youths and their allies. The PRISM group re-formed last year in the weeks following an alleged anti-gay incident during a New Ulm High School basketball game.
PRISM's mission is to establish a group that creates a safe and respectful space where LGBTQ+ students can support one another at NUHS. There are between 30 and 40 students who attend PRISM meetings.
The club strives to be a source of education on LGBTQ+ topics. The bulletin board organized by PRISM highlights LGBTQ+ figures from history.
Earlier this month, PRISM received the 2022 Human Rights Award from the New Ulm Human Rights Commission.
During the public comment section of the New Ulm School board meeting, Michael and Mary Thom took turns speaking out against PRISM.
Michael Thom said LGBTQ propaganda had been spreading through the school district for years and now its reach was being expanded through PRISM. He alleged PRISM was promoting a belief system that centers on sex and that many parents felt this was a belief system based on lies and deception.
He called for banning all LGBTQ messaging from all classrooms and student-sanctioned activities.
Thom said the school had a moral obligation to inform parents about what is being told on the subject and give parents the option to take children out of instruction dealing with LGBTQ issues.
Mary Thom followed her husband's comments by suggesting the parents of students attending PRISM meetings are unaware of what is happening. She believed the goals of the PRISM group were polar opposite to the goals of parents.
During public comments, the board is not required to respond to comments, but board member Johnathan Schiro wished to clarify that parents are currently allowed to opt children out of certain classroom instruction; specifically sex education.
--------
Supt. Jeff Bertrang gave a brief legislative update. He said it looked like the unemployment bill in the Minnesota House and Senate would pass. This means anyone who does not typically work in the summer would qualify for unemployment.
Bertrang said that is a $250,000 cost to the district to pay unemployment to the hourly wage workers that include paraprofessionals and cooks. Bertrang said the district was waiting to learn the finer details of the bill. It was unknown how this would impact the summer school and food service program.
New high school requirements are also being considered, including Civics in 11th and 12th grade. New Ulm currently offers Civics in 9th grade, which would require an adjustment. Personal Finance will be a new requirement.
"By adding these requirements you are taking away any elective opportunity for the kids," Bertrang said. "The fine arts and vocational programs end up with fewer kids because you have more requirements."
Bertrang said the district has pushed back against this additional requirement. He said the schools could embed these class requirements through the curriculum process without requiring more credits.
Later in the meeting, board member Schiro asked if incorporating personal finance into the math standard would cover the requirement.
Bertrang said this was an example of embedding the requirement in the current curriculum. The hope is the school can show the state it is already meeting this requirement and avoid another mandate.