The Weld Re-8 School District board of education said it will make a decision on a health-education policy at its regular meeting Sept. 22. It starts at 6:30 p.m. in the board’s meeting room, 200 S. Fulton Ave.

Health education is part of a board-approved curriculum, but the subject is not available in classrooms and is not a requirement for graduation.

When the board debated the issue at a Sept. 8 workshop, the focus was on whether to repeal the policy or ask parents to opt-in to allow their children to take the class.

Board member Cody LeBlanc said the opt-in route was more of a matter of respecting rights.

“It’s not going to be available at the elementary level,” said board member Michelle Bettger. “Parents will get a folder asking if they want to opt-in.”

“I don’t care if future boards are notified,” LeBlanc said. “We need to make sure that parents are fully aware that their kids are going to be in this class. It should be a conversation between parents and their doctors.”

Bettger said the course should be available.

“Not all students are going to get it at home,” she said. “It’s a fine line. I took it when I was in high school. I’m sure things are different now. But it was presented in a professional manner by a teacher everyone liked.”

“Parents should have a choice,” LeBlanc said.

Board member Jaime Sierra favored an opt-in approach. So did board member Matt Bovee.

“It’s something where people have different viewpoints,” he said. “It’s a subject that’s based on family beliefs. If it’s part of the curriculum and kids spend a couple of days outside of that, I don’t think it’s such a big thing.”