School board votes on additional curriculum audit after critical race theory concerns

XENIA — Dozens attended a local school board meeting Monday night after the district put the topic of critical race theory on the agenda.

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As reported on News Center 7 at 11:00, Xenia Community Schools board member Jeremy Cox claims critical race theory is being taught in the classroom.

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In a letter to district families, Superintendent Gabriel Lofton responded to this claim and said, “Xenia Community Schools solely utilizes curriculum that is age appropriate and in alignment with Ohio State Standards… To be entirely clear, Critical race Theory is not being taught now and has not been taught in the past.”

Cox proposed that a second curriculum audit should be done.

“The full survey would go further in determining what is or isn’t in the Xenia curriculum and I agree,” Cox said.

At the meeting, some parents said they wouldn’t mind a second audit to prove CRT isn’t being taught, while others said they didn’t want the district to spend money on it.

>> RELATED: School board to discuss critical race theory after concerns from board member

“We’ve sat in my office and we’ve talked and you know repeatedly I’m asking you, give me some examples, if there is CRT being taught we would deal with it, but I can’t act on innuendo and gossip or you know nebulous thinking,” Lofton said.

Several board members, including Cox, and Superintendent Lofton agreed there are other issues with the curriculum that need to be addressed but are being overshadowed by the conversation of CRT.

Lofton said that every board member has access to the current audit done earlier this year, plus curriculum details.

Ultimately the board voted against a second curriculum audit.

However, the school board is planning to set up a strategic plan to address the issues they feel are impacting students.

News Center 7 will continue to follow this story.

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