BELMONT – Alan Wood of St. Clairsville wants to ensure that critical breed theory is not taught in the local Union school district.

Superintendent Ben Porter and the school board heard from Wood at Thursday’s board meeting and said the program for the upcoming school year is set and does not include theory.

Wood is a father of students in the neighborhood.

“I had children who graduated here” he said afterwards. “It’s not part of the program and it made me very happy for the sake of my children. “

He said he saw some of the CRT educational material that circulated online.

“Frankly, it’s racist. It is teaching white children that they are racist just because they are white. It is teaching black children that they are discriminated against simply because they are black. I am a veteran. I served with black men and this is not true at all ”, said Bois. “It won’t be here and I’m grateful for that because we don’t need it here. Our children are not racists.

Porter said the district’s program aligns with state standards.

“We have heard his message and we will heed it” Porter said.

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica online, the method “Provides a framework for analysis that racism is a social construct and that US laws and policies are inherently racist, causing social, political and economic inequalities between various groups, with African Americans particularly disadvantaged. “

The concept dates back to the 1960s and was organized in 1989.

The Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Education states that the theory can be used as a “Educational tool” analyze possible racist influences on policies.

Ohio lawmakers – and those in more than a dozen other states – have introduced legislation that would ban the teaching of CRT in public schools.

Two different House bills – HB 322 and HB 327 – related to the issue have been introduced in Columbus and are awaiting committee-level action.

In other areas, summer renovations are continuing.

“Building repairs and so on, they’ve been pretty big over the summer. We are in the process of improving our ventilation systems ”, Porter said, adding that work was underway on the primary and secondary school buildings. Some work on the heating and air conditioning system will continue during the school year, as the district awaits out-of-stock equipment which is expected to be delivered in September.

The college gymnasium is also getting a new coat of paint. And the security camera system is being upgraded.

“We are going to have more cameras in the buildings themselves and also outside the building. It’s a big deal and something we need to upgrade ”, he said.

Student toilets will be upgraded to include contactless devices.

The primary school flooring will also benefit from a new surface.

Treasurer Janet Hissrich said the total cost of the renovations was around $ 3 million.

Hissrich said the district receives nearly $ 2 million in federal coronavirus relief funds.

Porter said buildings in the district are around 23 years old and the improvements could extend the lifespan by 23 years.

“Our maintenance technicians have done a very good job maintaining these buildings and the equipment they contain to make them last,” he said.

Porter also said summer school was going well, with nearly 50 high school students participating in credit recovery programs in June. About 200 primary school students attend sessions in June, July and August.

“We had good feedback from our families and the children who participated. They were grateful and we were able to provide meals, breakfast, lunch and also transportation for students who needed it ”, Porter said.