By Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor

Benicia Unified School District trustees voted unanimously Thursday to postpone approval of materials for the fifth-grade Family Life Instruction course to give parents more time to view and comment on the set of three DVDs.

Dr. Karen Dubrule, district director of curriculum and instruction, said the DVDs for the sex education course were originally chosen because “it came to our attention that teachers weren’t satisfied with the curriculum.”

She said the district Curriculum Council looked into the matter, forming a subcommittee that researched available materials.

That panel ultimately recommended the three DVDs by Marsh Media: “We’re Just Talking! For Boys and Girls,” “We’re Just Around the Corner,” and “We’re Growing Up.”

A fourth DVD, “A Baby is Born,” was determined not to be age-appropriate, Dubrule said.

She said a 10-day notice of public hearing was posted Oct. 19, during which parents were invited via achool newsletters to review the DVDs. None did.

Trustee Dana Dean voiced concerns about approving the DVDs without a longer period of review, and some parent feedback.

“As a parent I’d want to really know that I had an opportunity to review them, and then comment. I have a sense that we might get some comments,” she said.

“My concern was that it didn’t sound like parents had full notice that this is the opportunity tonight to come forward to give us comments about the material.

“The parents need to get notice of both how and when they can review the material, and how and when they can come back to us,” Dean said.

Trustee Steve Messina wanted to know whether the DVDs, if approved that night, would be in use within the next two weeks. Dubrule said no.

Then “I would rather err on the side of allowing people to come forward,” he said.

Sue Medrano, a Robert Semple Elementary School parent, said she never saw a notice about the matter until reading The Herald’s story on the DVDs Thursday. “That was the first news I had of it.”

“Would you want the opportunity to see the materials ahead of time and weigh in on them?” board President Rosie Switzer asked.

“Not to weigh in on them, but I’d like to see them before class happens just to have a heads-up and be prepared for those at home discussions,” Medrano said.

The board voted to table the matter until its Nov. 15 meeting to give parents additional time to weigh in.

In other business, Assistant Superintendent Michael Gardner announced that Benicia Middle School’s Viking Band had placed first in several categories in a competition in Santa Cruz.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our band, under the direction of Glenn Walp and what they’re able to do,” BMS principal Michael Minahen said.

Also Thursday, Messina announced a donation of $5,075.85 to the district’s crossing guards from local businessman Phil Joy, who has collected more than $20,000 through metal drives.