Understanding and Addressing Controversial Issues in CUSD (11/21/2024)

Good evening, board members and staff,

BP 6144 addresses controversial issues, so it’s essential to first understand what makes a topic controversial. While BP 6144 lists some examples, it’s not exhaustive or future-proof.

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, “controversial” means “causing disagreement or discussion.” Therefore, if a topic attracts community attention, sparks debates at board meetings, and generates multiple complaints from families, it is potentially controversial. This can serve as our rule of thumb for identifying controversial topics in the future. Important issues could be identified with a committee consisting of community members, teachers, and experts.

Thank you.