Board approves Upper Cumberland child advocacy curriculum with split vote

The Cumberland County Board of Education approved adoption of the Upper Cumberland Child Advocacy curriculum during its Jan. 27 meeting.

The board voted following a motion and second; a roll-call recorded several “no” votes but the item passed. During discussion a board member confirmed that the district already covers the state-required points via nursing staff, and adopting the curriculum would allow the district to use a standard curriculum shared by several districts.

On the roll call for the curriculum approval, recorded votes included: Davis — no; Hale — no; Matthews — yes; Nichols — yes; Stout — yes; Stowell — yes; Dull — no; Van Winkle — no; Cole — yes; King — yes. The chair announced “yeses have it” after the count.

Director William Stepp noted the curriculum supplements current requirements and would let the district “pull our resources out of that and use the standard curriculum that’s being provided to several districts.” A board member asked whether the curriculum was required by state law; a staff reply indicated the district already met required points but that adoption would align curriculum across schools.

The meeting record does not list implementation dates or detailed rollout plans for classroom delivery; board members approved the item as presented and bundled it with other consent items for a vote.