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The Liberty Elementary School district is soliciting volunteers for a curriculum and resources review committee.
During his interview in May, Superintendent Cort Monroe said he would champion parental choice and transparency for matters in the district.
“Public school is driven by the market now that parents have choices,” Monroe replied. “What do our parents want for their kids? Is Dr. Monroe going to sit in his office and decide what the next school will be? Well that would be pretty foolish. I think if we're looking at elementary school No. 8 or the next school, and we don't talk to our parents about what do they value in their child's education, we're doing a disservice because they may go enrolling into a charter school.”
On Thursday, the district echoed that message with a press release seeking volunteers for two committees.
“Transparency surrounding the Liberty Elementary School District No. 25’s curriculum is important. That’s why the district is seeking parents and community members to participate on a supplemental resource committee,” the district wrote in a statement. “The mission of the committee is to review the quality of supplemental materials to ensure that resources used for instruction meet district criteria.”
Parent involvement in curriculum has been a contentious point among Valley and national school district in recent years. Groups like conservative Moms for Liberty among others have been pushing for more involvement.
Moms for Liberty co-founder Tina Descovich announced the organization will start three chapters in the Valley, starting in Mesa.
“What we've decided to do is divide Maricopa County into three,” she said in a YouTube interview. “And so when I come there tomorrow, we actually are launching our new Maricopa Mesa chapter, that's going to be one part of Maricopa County. So we're hoping by shrinking that responsibility a little bit so that these moms will be able to engage and do the work that needs to be done.”
Moms for Liberty is known for challenging curriculum in schools. It has also draw criticism around the country for its approach.
Michael McDaniel can be reached at mmcdaniel@iniusa.org. We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments, pro or con, on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.
