Letter from the Montgomery County School Health Council

February 7, 2005

Dr. Jerry D. Weast
Superintendent of School
Carver Educational Services Center
850 Hungerford Drive, Room 113
Rockville, Maryland 20850

Dr. Ulder J. Tillman, MD, MPH
Health Officer
Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services
Public Health Services
401 Hungerford Drive, 5th Floor
Rockville, Maryland 20850

Patricia O'Neill
President, Board of Education
Carver Educational Services Center, Room 123
850 Hungerford Drive
Rockville, Maryland 20850

Dear Drs. Weast and Tillman and Mrs. O'Neill:

As an advisory and advocacy group dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of Montgomery County school age youth, the Montgomery County School Health Council (SHC) would like to express our endorsement for the Board of Education's decision to adopt the two health education curriculum changes recommended by the Citizens' Advisory Committee on Family Life and Human Development.

As you are aware, these changes include:

1. The MCPS produced video, Protect Yourself, a condom demonstration video to be shown in Grade 10 Comprehensive Health Education with parental consent.


2. Pilot testing a revision of the Grade 8 and 10 Health Education Curricula to include information on Sexual Variation.

We understand that there are community members who oppose the new curriculum implementation. Significant public health research strongly supports these changes and the School Health Council believes that implementing these curricular revisions will provide important information to the students of Montgomery County.

We appreciate your continuing efforts and attention to these important health issues. We look forward to continuing to promote the health and well-being of our Montgomery County school-aged youth together.


Giorgio Kulp, MD, FAAP
Co-Chair
Montgomery County School Health Council

Tracy A. Fox, MPH, RD
Co-Chair
Montgomery County School Health Council

cc: Board of Education