OCEAN CITY — Ocean City Council unanimously approved a Parents Bill of Rights at Thursday evening’s meeting, taking aim at what they called state standards handed down with little public input during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Councilman Tom Rotondi introduced the idea at the last council meeting and it was brought forward in a resolution during the meeting Sept. 8.
Rotondi said the measure wasn’t in reaction to the Ocean City Board of Education adopting the new state Department of Education Health and Physical Education Standard in August, and had nothing to do with the school board or administration.
He said he would never talk badly about the school district, which “should be praised” for the way it is handling the standard, giving parents opportunities to understand the process.
“The state should take note of that,” he said.
He also said he has never said anything negative about teachers, noting how they go above and beyond.
Rotondi praised new Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matthew Friedman and teachers for how they are dealing with the curriculum, calling it befitting of America’s Greatest Family Resort.
Instead, he said, he introduced it because the state government is not being open and transparent with parents, voting on the new standard in the middle of the pandemic without getting enough input.
Parents Bill of Rights
State Sens. Kristin Corrado and Anthony Bucco sponsored a Parents Bill of Rights Act that was introduced in the Legislature in May.
Council’s resolution approves the creation of that bill of rights that would do multiple things, including requiring school districts to give parents the right to review curriculum, including media services, textbooks and books; to be able to opt out of any curriculum in conflict with “the conscience or sincerely held moral or religious beliefs”; and encourages parents and community leaders to develop the bill “that will protect our children” and allow parents to make their own decisions about their children’s “exposure to sensitive information.”
The resolution also urges Gov. Phil Murphy, the Legislature and the New Jersey Department of Education “to ban such highly sensitive material for our young children.”
All seven members of council voted to approve the resolution.
By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff