Family appeals decision on religion in classroom

The topic of religion in Gilman classrooms as part of Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) curriculum continues to be an issue for one local family. Jacob and Emily Doro have appealed the complaint review committee’s decision to leave the curriculum as is.

On November 12, 2024, the Doros filed a complaint in writing which stated, “Our complaint is not about the teaching staff, or the potential for indoctrination, but entirely the exposure to the variety of religions.”

Their statement goes on to say, “One of their (CKLA) goals is to introduce students to different world religions as a part of world history, not to proselytize. They supposedly use a compare and contrast model, however without giving parents the time to establish their own family values, morals, and faith, it is over the children’s heads when they have not been taught something to contrast against. Which makes these topics beyond the maturity level of the students.”

This complaint is in response to a lesson that took place in the second grade classroom about the Indus River Valley, India, which discussed Buddhism and Hinduism as a part of the culture of the indigenous people of the region. Religions are commonly introduced as part of world culture studies through approved CKLA curriculum. The Doros are pushing for that curriculum to take place in middle school rather than second grade.

In response, the school board formed a complaint review committee consisting of two parents with children in the grade level of the materials being questioned, two teachers and one school board member to investigate the claims made

See GILMAN on page 5 and determine the best path forward. That committee met on December 11 at which point the Doros provided the committee with their complaint as well as the relevant policies from the school’s policy manual. That meeting was adjourned with committee members being instructed to review the complaint carefully and be prepared to vote at the next committee meeting.

The second meeting of the complaint review committee was held on January 6. Chairperson of the committee Valerie Kulesa reported calling Colby, Abbotsford, and Thorp school districts as part of her research, noting that it was suggested that the children be allowed to step outside during topics that their parents consider controversial.

District administrator Walter Leipart reminded committee members during the January 6 meeting that board policy states that the district will provide an alternative curriculum for any individual for any reason. “That is our responsibility as educators,” he stated at the time.

After much discussion at that same meeting, committee members Valerie Kulesa, Jeannie Entrekin, and Holly Bacha voted to leave the curriculum as is with member Lori Brenner voting in favor of the Doros. Another committee member was not present as they did not do enough research in the time allotted and therefore abstained from voting.

At the Monday school board meeting, during the Citizens Forum, Emily Doro read a statement which was also passed out to board members along with another 14 pages of material. She read, “Our request was and is to have these controversial religious lessons and material that is not at the developmental appropriate state (school board policy 9130) with CKLA curriculum be omitted from what is taught at the Gilman School District.”

Policy 9130 addresses public requests, suggestions, or complaints. Under the district's guidelines for addressing concerns about classroom instructional materials, Section A outlines the procedure for submitting criticism. According to the policy, the complaint should specify the reason for concern, such as content that is harmful to minors, violations of state law, noncompliance with the district's nondiscrimination policy, or materials deemed inappropriate for the grade level.

The Doros accused the committee of not doing their due diligence at the January 6 meeting, citing the committee’s discussion of whether or not students are allowed to step out of the room while the topic of religion was being taught, with Emily Doro reporting that the material stating that students could step out was provided to the committee prior to the vote. The Doros appear to interpret this to mean that the committee did not fully utilize the available resources and therefore they should not have been allowed to vote, as policy states that only members who have read or viewed the material in its entirety may vote.

“…a majority of the subcommittee was unprepared and uninformed to make an adequate decision,” said Emily Doro.

The couple also appears to take issue that the complaint review committee did not discuss age appropriateness during the meeting upon which they voted to leave the CKLA curriculum intact.

The Doros are asking the school board to make this decision themselves rather than create another committee.

The board did not take action on this issue during Monday’s meeting as it was not on the agenda, but reported that they would move forward with the complaint.

In other business, the board heard report from Leipart regarding the decline in state aid.

“Essentially we have a lot of factors working against us when it comes to state aid, declining enrollment, significant increase in equalized value across the district, we literally had an increase of 29% in two years on the equalized value of properties in our community,” he stated. “The state average is 5%.”

He continued, “We’re going to see, based on those projections, a decrease of about $1.3 million in state aid by the year 2030.”

Leipart braced the board for a potential referendum to keep the school afloat, which would take place in the spring of 2026. “We’re going to have to start planning that referendum now,” he said.

In other action, the board:

• Heard from Leipart that the Gilman Senior Center donated $250 to go toward student lunch debt.

• Learned that Chuck Szemraj will not be renewing his transportation contract as a bus driver for the 2025-2026 school year, though he will stay on until the district could find another driver. Leipart has contacted Riteway transportation as an alternative.

• Discussed the State Education Convention taking place this week which Leipart and Kulesa will be attending.

Heard report from Principal Tallman who stated that he has updated the policy on tardies in the school beginning in the third quarter, this Thursday. Three tardies will result in a lunch detention, four to six tardies will result in a lunch detention and a phone call home to discuss further disciplinary action, and six to eight tardies will result in lunch detention as well as after school detention from 3:30-4 p.m. which will take precedence over practices and other after school activities. Eight or more tardies will result in an in-school suspension. “There’s been a few students with excessive tardies,” Tallman explained.

• Heard that educator Tiffany Partridge has completed her internship and the board voted to approve her as a first grade teacher.

• Heard that former principal Jerry Smith tendered his resignation as of December 31, 2024. “This resignation doesn’t supersede the board action to nonrenew Jerry’s administrative contract. The non-renewal stands and allows the district to communicate such information to future employers should we receive any requests for information regarding his employment period in Gilman,” said Leipart.

• Voted not to put enrollment caps on special education.

• Voted to move forward with Dark Horse CDL who will be taking over Hands-On CDL driving school in Holcombe. Due to online access, Dark Horse can offer services to the school district of Gilman at the rate of $2,600. Leipart suggested that students should pay $100 while the school pays for the remainder. Should students need more time, they will have to pay for that out-of-pocket. Should a student enroll and fail the course, they will need to repay the school district the $2,500.

• Voted in closed session to take on Tallman as school principal. Tallman has been acting as interim principal in the absence of Smith. “He’s doing a fantastic job, really is an individual that has demonstrated both poise and confidence, and competence in the job,” said Leipart of Tallman.