Temecula teachers, parents protest rejection of curriculum that mentions Harvey Milk

Temecula teachers, parents and employees rallied in front of 18 elementary schools and at a park Tuesday, June 6, to protest the school board's rejection of a curriculum that mentioned late gay rights leader Harvey Milk.

Led by members of the Temecula Valley Educators Association, the demonstrations across the Temecula Valley Unified School District aimed to inform parents of the board's decision, which has drawn criticism, including from Gov. Gavin Newsom. An afternoon rally at the Temecula Duck Pond included more than 100 teachers, parents and residents.

RELATED: Curriculum that mentions Harvey Milk blocked by Temecula school board

On May 16, the board's conservative Christian majority blocked a social studies curriculum that 47 teachers studied and proposed be used in first through fifth grades for the next eight years, starting with the 2023-24 school year. The cost would have been about $1.6 million, according to a report to the board.

"The teachers spent a year of their time vetting and looking at different curriculums for the best choice, so doing that whole process again isn't fair to the teachers or students," said Jennifer Schwank, a literacy specialist for kindergartners through fifth graders at Temecula Elementary School.

Edgar Díaz, president of the Temecula Valley Educators Association, holds a sign that reads "Quality books for quality kids" as he demonstrates outside Temecula Elementary School on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. The rally protested the Temecula school board's rejection of new social studies textbooks. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Lisa Sisco, organizational director of the Temecula Valley Educators Association, hands out fliers to parents as they drop off their kids at school in Temecula on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

A parked car displays a sign that reads: "Don't let the school board violate the Williams Act!" during a rally outside Temecula Elementary School on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

A car parked outside Temecula Elementary School on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, displays a sign that reads: "It's time to use our outside voices. Approve K-5 Social Studies." A rally protested the Temecula school board's rejection of new social studies textbooks. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Tabitha Kusick, a 7-year-old student at Temecula Elementary School, joins her mother Sara, left, in a Tuesday morning, June 6, 2023, rally organized by parents and the Temecula Valley Educators Association outside the campus. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

As parents drop off their children at Temecula Elementary School on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, Edgar Díaz, president of the Temecula Valley Educators Association, holds a sign that reads: "Quality books for quality kids." (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

As students begin their day at Temecula Elementary School, Tabitha Kusick, a 7-year-old student at the school, joins her mother, Sara Kusick, in holding signs during a June 6, 2023, rally against the Temecula school board's rejection of new textbooks. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Lisa Teets, a literacy specialist at Temecula Elementary School, holds a sign that reads: "Teachers need textbooks for teaching" during a Tuesday, June 6, 2023, rally outside Temecula Elementary School. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Protesters stand on the sidewalk in front of the Temecula Duck Pond during a Tuesday afternoon, June 6, 2023, rally against the Temecula school board's rejection of a new social studies curriculum for elementary school students. (Photo by Nova Blanco-Rico, The Press-Enteprise/SCNG)

Protesters stand on the sidewalk in front of the Temecula Duck Pond during a Tuesday afternoon, June 6, 2023, rally against the Temecula school board's rejection of a new social studies curriculum for elementary school students. (Photo by Nova Blanco-Rico, The Press-Enteprise/SCNG)

Protesters stand on the sidewalk in front of the Temecula Duck Pond during a Tuesday afternoon, June 6, 2023, rally against the Temecula school board's rejection of a new social studies curriculum for elementary school students. (Photo by Nova Blanco-Rico, The Press-Enteprise/SCNG)

Parents and teachers rally outside Temecula Elementary School on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, to protest the Temecula school board's rejection of new social studies textbooks. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

The board rejected the curriculum on a 3-2 vote. Board members Joseph Komrosky and Danny Gonzalez didn't agree with the mention of Harvey Milk in separate optional supporting materials. Milk is not cited in the textbook. Board member Jen Wiersma said LGBTQ issues and sexual orientation don't need to be taught in kindergarten through fifth grades.

RELATED: Gov. Gavin Newsom blasts Temecula school trustee for calling Harvey Milk ‘a pedophile’

During the board's discussion, Temecula school board President Joseph Komrosky referred to Milk as "a pedophile." Newsom called Komrosky "an ignorant person" in a Saturday, June 3, tweet and said "Congrats Mr. Komrosky you have our attention." The governor's post followed by days a letter he and other state officials sent to educators across the state warning them about banning books.

On Tuesday morning at Temecula Elementary School, picketers held signs that read "Teachers NEED Textbooks," "Support Teachers," and "We stand with the teachers." Cars honked in support, while union members went to parents’ cars to hand out flyers informing them of the curriculum's rejection.

Edgar Diaz, president of the Temecula Valley Educator Association, said that, in general, supporting materials are optional and teachers can use them to add content to their lessons.

"At this point in the year, as a teacher, you want to celebrate with all the kids for the end of the year and get ready for next year, but right now you can't when one of your subjects are in limbo without materials," Diaz said. "We aren't sure what will happen now. There are options, but as of right now, the board has not set a goal of making sure there's a textbook for next year."

During the May 16 board meeting, Anna Tapley, Temecula Valley Unified's director of curriculum, instruction and assessment, said the current curriculum was adopted in 2006 and does not reflect the California Fair Education Act of 2012, which requires curriculum to have fair representation without discrimination.

After her conservative board colleagues disagreed with the new curriculum, board member Allison Barclay defended the proposed textbook, saying current lessons are outdated and could violate the Williams Act. According to a report to the school board, the act requires curriculum to match content standards set by the California Board of Education. The district could be fined more than $1 million for violating the act, she said.

Diaz worked as a teacher for 26 years, 15 of which he taught in grades kindergarten through fifth grade, before becoming union president. He said the current social studies curriculum is more than 10 years old and the publisher is not printing the textbooks.

"In my experience, every board that I have worked with has done everything they can to provide us the tools to be successful with students in the classroom, so for the first time they’re not giving us the resources we need." Diaz said. "They’re telling us now ‘You don't need the new textbooks,’ that they’ll figure something out, but we are the ones who will have to figure it out. Teachers are the ones that have to do the work."

Diaz said he requested that the board revisit adoption of the textbook and will learn by Friday if it will be on the next school board agenda.

Michele Steinhardt, a special education kindergarten- to first-grade teacher at Temecula Elementary School, said she feels underappreciated.

"The rejection of new curriculum is disappointing, because teachers put so much effort into helping raise other people's kids and get them educated, then we get told ‘You can't do this or can't teach that,’" Steinhardt said. "It's disheartening and though I love teaching, it makes you question it a little bit, if all we get are accusations and lack of respect."

Along with teachers, Temecula UNITY and Temecula Valley PRIDE plan to protest at the Tuesday, June 13, Temecula school board meeting.

The crowd at the Tuesday afternoon rally included Temecula Mayor Zac Schwank, who said he came to support teachers.

"It's important if we want to raise smart and empathetic kids that our teachers have the resources they need to do that," he said.

Barclay, the school board member, also attended.

"The book we previously used is out of print, so I don't know what will happen — and nor does the district — if we can't decide on a curriculum and it's terrifying," Barclay said.

Andrea Dunham, who has two children in Temecula schools, said she once felt "happy in our district."

"I felt that we were one of the best, but I feel like the new board members are negatively impacting that," Dunham said. "I feel they are spending a lot of taxpayer money to push some political propaganda and it's affecting our schools."

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