My name is Dr. Trudy Jermanovich.

Thanks to Scott Travis for the informative articles describing what’s going on with Sex Ed in South Florida Schools. This series is a glimpse on how the State Republican DOE is interfering with community driven decisions and changing how vital information is presented to Broward and Palm Beach students.

Time to email the Palm Beach and Broward School Boards and State Delegation to see if they can get the DOE to change their strict interpretation and allow districts to bring back major components of this important curriculum. These curriculum materials had been used for at least 15 years and had been evaluated and approved by several parent committees as Scott discussed in his articles. In fact, there had been a comprehensive approach to Sex Ed allowed in Florida classrooms even in 1977 when I began teaching Middle School Science classes. What he described in the Palm Beach Program is appalling as it is a completely stripped down program and has turned the clock back to 1955. With all the chaos in the world, I sincerely hope that this informative program is not restricted this school year.

I urge all of you to discuss at this Board Meeting how the District will make sure that students don’t lose a valuable part of their education. Collectively you should make it clear that there WILL BE an informative Sex Ed Program for Broward Students this school year.

This is only one of many issues that you must collaborate with the Broward Delegation during your “Rally to Tally” trip in order to deliver the best education possible for our students. Please use some of your time in Tallahassee to work with the FL DOE to get the Sex Ed program approved so it goes forward quickly and is implemented this school year. Literally, this is an issue where our children’s lives could be at stake if they do not receive accurate information.

“Florida Statute 48-1003.42 states that public schools must teach “comprehensive health education” that includes prevention of child sexual abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking.”

This is part of the Sex Ed Curriculum.