Flagler schools may add sex-ed program

BUNNELL -- Concerned by elevated rates of sexually-transmitted diseases, Flagler County School Board members may boost the district's sex education curriculum.

The board discussed during a workshop session on Monday moving to an "abstinence-plus" program, which would offer students information about contraceptives, disease and pregnancy.

The community can weigh in on that proposal at a forum scheduled for April 7 at 6:30 p.m. at the Government Services Building. Board members will vote on any changes this spring.

Flagler now offers an "abstinence-only" curriculum. Teachers can answer questions about sex, but must emphasize that abstinence is the only suitable option for teenagers, said Katrina Townsend, the district's director of student services.

Before that date, the district will survey students about their sexual behavior. The 10-minute survey will ask students if they are sexually active, if they have used contraceptives and if they used drugs or alcohol before having sex. Parents can exclude their children from the survey by returning a form or emailing the school, Townsend said.

The district will also invite parents to answer an online survey about the district's sex education curriculum. That survey will ask parents if they discuss sex with their children, if they want schools to provide information about sex, and at what age sex education should start.

It's apparent students are having sex. According to the Florida Youth Risk Behavior Survey, about half of high school students said they have had sex.

A few students start having sex before high school. There are now five pregnant middle school students who are taking online courses, Townsend said.

Sexually-transmitted diseases are of particular concern for Flagler. The county's rate of sexually-transmitted diseases, not including AIDs, in 15 to 19-year-olds is higher than neighboring Volusia County and even the highly-populated Miami-Dade County, Townsend said.

Board members said they hope beefing up the county's sex education could help bring those rates down.

For Subscribers

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCBP leaders cut out of Trump ad buy decision

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAmerican passenger drafted goodbye texts to her family as Flydubai plane plummeted

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCornell rape allegation pushes embattled New York prosecutor into national spotlight

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAbdul El-Sayed tries to woo MAHA voters as Democrats seek inroads with RFK’s supporters

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKratom-like substances are popping up in a typically benign supplement

FOR SUBSCRIBERSGOP super PAC increases its spending for Sen. Jon Husted in tough Ohio race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSRecords reveal tumultuous marriage between slain New York Times executive and wife

FOR SUBSCRIBERSFrom clean energy warrior to ‘wall of shame,’ James Talarico reverses on a fossil fuel money pledge

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCongressional staff planned official trip with luxury stops in Italy and France weeks before election

FOR SUBSCRIBERSA harrowing ordeal aboard an Israel-bound plane

FOR SUBSCRIBERSOpenAI CEO Sam Altman to skip congressional hearing on rogue AI agents

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKey DOJ lawyers departed Trump ‘grand conspiracy’ probe amid pressure to produce, source says

FOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump’s new AI chatbot often links to a site launched under Clinton 26 years ago

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAt MAHA summit, industry CEOs the movement once vilified take the stage

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThis Paralympian has two goals: Win medals and give away $500,000 to her teammates

For Subscribers

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCBP leaders cut out of Trump ad buy decision

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAmerican passenger drafted goodbye texts to her family as Flydubai plane plummeted

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCornell rape allegation pushes embattled New York prosecutor into national spotlight

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAbdul El-Sayed tries to woo MAHA voters as Democrats seek inroads with RFK’s supporters

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKratom-like substances are popping up in a typically benign supplement

FOR SUBSCRIBERSGOP super PAC increases its spending for Sen. Jon Husted in tough Ohio race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSRecords reveal tumultuous marriage between slain New York Times executive and wife

FOR SUBSCRIBERSFrom clean energy warrior to ‘wall of shame,’ James Talarico reverses on a fossil fuel money pledge

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCongressional staff planned official trip with luxury stops in Italy and France weeks before election

FOR SUBSCRIBERSA harrowing ordeal aboard an Israel-bound plane

FOR SUBSCRIBERSOpenAI CEO Sam Altman to skip congressional hearing on rogue AI agents

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKey DOJ lawyers departed Trump ‘grand conspiracy’ probe amid pressure to produce, source says

FOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump’s new AI chatbot often links to a site launched under Clinton 26 years ago

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAt MAHA summit, industry CEOs the movement once vilified take the stage

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThis Paralympian has two goals: Win medals and give away $500,000 to her teammates

"People really need to understand the statistics that are tied to this and why this is even a conversation right now," Board Member Colleen Conklin said.

Flagler's neighboring counties are divided on sex education. Volusia offers an "abstinence-plus" curriculum but St. Johns teaches abstinence only.

Most board members were cool to the idea of offering condoms in the schools' health clinics. Chairwoman Sue Dickinson said she was willing to try it, but the three other board members who were present Monday ranged from hesitant to adamantly against it.

"I would like to see us pilot it in a couple of schools and see what happens with it, rather than say 'No' outright," Dickinson said.

Several board members said it was hard to think about talking about sex with students as young as sixth-grade, but it might be necessary.

"How many parents aren't even thinking about their child being sexually active?" Dickinson said. "Parents just feel 'This isn't my kid,' until the child comes home and says, 'Mom, I'm pregnant.' "