PCSD Board comments on ‘Sensitive Materials Policy’ in a new statement

The Park City School District building in Park City, Utah. Photo: TownLift // Bailey Edelstein

PARK CITY, Utah — Park City School District (PCSD) released a statement in early October regarding adopting a “sensitive materials policy” as mandated by Utah law. PCSD has released a draft of Policy 9051, “Sensitive Materials,” to parents for public comment until its regularly scheduled meeting on October 18.

TownLift previously reported on Utah’s new legislation, H.B. 3745, which was passed in 2022, which requires all school districts to have policies that prohibit “sensitive material in schools.” This law requires that school district policies include similar prohibitory language and standards as outlined.

PCSD already had a district policy outlining how materials were approved and considered appropriate for instruction (Policy #9050) but were required to create an additional policy to comply with state law, which was numbered Policy #9051. PCSD was set to approve Policy #9051 on September 20 but did not move forward with the approval after compelling testimony by teachers, parents, and students.

While the deadline for compliance with Utah State Board of Education policy and state government law was originally October 6, PCSD received an extension to implement the policy. Since the September 20 meeting, PCSD has redrafted Policy #9051, emphasizing “compliance with all state and federal laws while reinforcing parents’ primary responsibilities and protecting students’ First Amendment rights.” The policy was redrafted “after consulting legal counsel” with a “philosophy statement and reference to the jurisprudence of the First Amendment.”

The new draft is not set in stone yet; PCSD parents can still submit comments and feedback before October 18. According to their statement, the PCSD Board has “every intention of adopting a policy as required by law” on that date.