PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. — On Wednesday's agenda, the Prince William County School Board tackled a possible proposal change that would mandate schools to inform parents of school-wide readings and presentations.
The change that would be made to a policy in the school district comes months after parents at a Woodbridge school were reportedly upset over the reading of a gay children's fairytale. A Marshall Elementary School librarian read the book "Prince & Knight" during the video morning announcement in recognition of the school district proclaiming June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month. The book tells the story of a prince who falls in love with a knight.
Though this might not have been a catalyst in this considered policy change, situations like this would require a heads-up to parents and guardians if the proposal is passed.
"It shall be the responsibility of every school to notify all parents and guardians, by email, at least three days in advance of any schoolwide presentation, including guest presentations, assemblies, or any such instances in which any book or other material will be read, shared, performed, or broadcast to all students by any person," the policy reads.
The policy will allow any student to be excused from these presentations or readings if requested by a guardian or parent.
Potomac District School Board member Justin David Wilk, who expressed that this change is not due to the reading of "Prince & Knight", said the proposed language of the recommendation was vetted by a variety of school system officials.
He continued by stating that the conclusion was that all building leaders should be already doing these types of 'best practices' and it is already happening in the vast majority of schools. This proposed policy change would just be making those practices more formalized.
The proposed policy change only pertains to events that are building-wide, not teams, grade level, or student led activities. The intent is to keep communication clear for everyone involved which can lead to healthy conversation between parents, educational staff, and the students themselves.
“The goal of this policy change is to put practice into formal policy," Wilk said. "Parents should not have to rely on having an extremely communicative principals or assistant principals at their child’s building.”
Board members expressed that this is in fact not a new policy but an update to a policy that was developed in 2004.