District just says 'no' to program

By Times staff Writer
Published October 23, 2007

Pasco County school officials don't look likely to accept a Hernando-based Christian ministry's offer to bring abstinence-only sex education into their classrooms.

"We listened, but I can't really see there's anything that will make us change from our School Board-approved plan," assistant superintendent Sandra Ramos told the Pasco Times.

Representatives from A New Generation, which offers abstinence-themed assemblies as well as a full curriculum in Hernando, came to Ramos and superintendent Heather Fiorentino last week hoping to convince them to adopt some of their program. Pasco is the only district in the area not to offer abstinence-only education.

But what Ramos said she and Fiorentino found was that Pasco offers a more comprehensive and well-rounded course than what A New Generation could provide. She also noted that families have a role to play, and that the district would not try to usurp that role. Just in case, Ramos said, they asked for additional materials to review.

[Last modified October 22, 2007, 21:40:14]