By WESLIE STRATTON
Moapa Valley Progress
Mesquite resident Jodi Thornley was approved by the Clark County School District Board of Trustees as a member of the district’s Sex Education Advisory Committee. Thornley will represent a district that includes Mesquite, Moapa Valley and part of North Las Vegas. She will be one of seven district representatives that make up the committee.
Her role on the advisory committee will last for two years beginning in July of this year through June 30, 2021.
“I wanted to be on the board to make sure I can be in on the ground level of new (sex education) curriculum and what they’re going to give us in regards to that and make sure it’s appropriate,” Thornley said. “I also want to make sure children with disabilities were in on the conversation from the beginning so they’re not an afterthought.”
Thornley said that the role of the advisory board is to make recommendations to the full board of trustees regarding sex education curriculum in local public schools. The committee will read all suggested curriculum changes prior to making their recommendations.
“But they (the trustees) have the final say,” she added.
Thornley said that she thinks the current curriculum is enough.
“I don’t think we need to add more,” she said. “Our time in schools is precious enough to not worry about adding more curriculum and time with what they’re already being taught.”
Thornley said that students are currently learning about anatomy as well as awareness of STDs and STIs.
“Some of the big push is LGBTQ, transgender and all that,” she said. “I think that’s all pretty much already covered in the bullying policies. You can’t bully anybody. It’s covered there and I don’t think it needs to be singled out and covered again.”
She added that she hopes that any new curriculum added in the future is not too controversial.
“Keep it to the facts and make sure our kids are safe and protecting themselves,” she said. Thornley said that she is not at all interested in a curriculum where kids have extreme agendas pushed on them in school.
One of Thornley’s goals is to ensure that the current opt-in procedures requiring parents to sign off on sex education units in public school remains the same. She encourages parents and community members to stay informed on the issues surrounding this and to be aware of what is being taught in the classroom. .
“And please be involved so we get what our children need and not crazy agendas,” Thornley said.
Thornley was recommended for this role by CCSD Selection Committee member Lindsey Dalley of Logandale. Dalley said that Thornley has a lot of experience working on various committees, including working closely with former Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval.
“She has a personality that she can discuss things and bring points up without making people mad,” Dalley said, adding that Thornley is not a pushover.
He said that there are many “button pushers” on the sex education committee and that members need to be strategic.
“She can be strategic,” Dalley said. “I like the way she thinks and I like the way she performs in a public setting. I know she won’t do us any harm.”
