Long Valley Parents, Board Discuss Critical Race Theory Topic

LONG VALLEY, NJ — Members of the Washington Township Schools Board of Education were applauded by audience members at their most recent meeting, after assuring families the district's curriculum doesn’t contain Critical Race Theory in it.

Board Member Carmine Capogrosso spoke on behalf of the Education Committee at the meeting on Aug. 18, stating he and fellow Board Members Jill Mucerino and Stephanie Wilson met with Interim Superintendent Dr. Laura Morana on Aug. 3 and 10.

“The committee spent a considerable amount of time discussing the district’s Social Studies curriculum, particularly the process which curriculum is designed and implemented,” Capograsso reported.

“We also discussed the definition of Critical Race Theory and some of the research related to the instruction of CRT in K-12 schools,” Capograsso added.

“Just for your information, the Washington Township Schools’ curriculum does not contain CRT,” he said.

Families, he said, will have more access to curriculum overviews per grade levels, on the district website, including for Sexual Education and Health Education. Parents, he said, will have options to be able to opt out to segments of the curriculum.

Morana said there are regulations pertaining to the curriculum that should be ready by Aug. 30, with the Education Committee reviewing these regulations by the next committee meeting on Sept. 2, with more information at the Board of Education meeting on Sept. 14.

Deborah Russo, the District Coordinator of Teaching, Learning and Intervention/Support Services with the district for 23 years, presented at the meeting, stating the curriculum is designed with standards set by the State of New Jersey. From there, Russo works with teachers to design units.
Parents can review units per grade level on the district’s website by going to the Parent Information section, then viewing the curricula section, which is broken down by grade. She drilled down in the Seventh Grade section, opening the Social Studies document and then the unit “Understanding by Design America, Africa and Europe Before 1500,” to walk parents through how to open up each unit.

Robin Gibbon was one of the residents who thanked the district for its opposition to Critical Race Theory, stating she had brought documentation with her to the last meeting on Aug. 18, to challenge it.

“I am thrilled to live in a town that puts children first and not an agenda,” she said, thanking them for recognizing “the evils of Critical Race Theory.”

Anitra Nesfeder asked how her child could be opted out of gender orientation education and ensure that after her child is opted out, the topic is not brought up while her child is in the classroom.

Morana said in the near future after the regulations are developed, parents will be able to access a template for some segments of their child’s education, where they can opt out.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.