San Angelo ISD Tables Vote on Bible-Influenced Curriculum

SAN ANGELO – The San Angelo ISD Board of Trustees on Tuesday night tabled a decision on adopting Bluebonnet Learning, a state-owned elementary curriculum that has drawn scrutiny over its religious content, instructional quality, and teacher autonomy. The board will revisit the issue at its March 10 meeting.

Trustees postponed the vote, with several members citing the complexity of the decision and a desire for more time to review materials. 

“I would like all board members to be present, however, also I’d like more time to read,” Board Secretary Gerard Gallegos said. “There’s a lot of stuff that I found out today. This is going to guarantee me another two weeks to find out what I really need to find out.”

Board Treasurer Bill Dendle was absent from the meeting, as Board President Taylor Kingman said work had gotten in the way. 

Deputy Superintendent Dr. Farrah Gomez presented the administration’s recommendation, stating that Bluebonnet Learning is the only State Board of Education-approved Open Educational Resource (OER) that aligns 100% with Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).

The curriculum’s adoption would provide SAISD with $1 million in state funding, with an additional $237,000 to cover printing costs, totaling $1.2 million.

“Decisions are not ever made solely on money,” Gomez said. “Decisions are made on what’s best for each student and the overall enrollment in a district." 

Trustees raised concerns over religious content in the curriculum and the quality of student readers.

“I know that you’re reporting what the state is telling you,” Board Trustee Ami Mizell-Flint said. “But I disagree that it’s our job to teach about religion. I think that’s a parent’s job. I think that’s the church’s job.”

Gomez clarified that while teachers are not required to follow a script word-for-word, pacing must be maintained for district-wide alignment and assessments.

During the public comment session, parents, educators, and community members expressed divided opinions on the curriculum.

Parent Karen Best criticized Bluebonnet Learning for low-quality instructional materials, such as reading aloud from a first-grade textbook that she said contained misspellings and simplistic language.

“This is not education. This is not learning,” Best said. “If someone along this distinguished line of educators thinks this is how you teach kids to read… this is not it.”

A San Angelo ISD teacher also warned against adopting an untested curriculum, citing legal risks.

“I am afraid that SAISD does not have the capacity to absorb all the lawsuits and issues that might arise if this curriculum is not as good as we think it might be,” she said.

Meanwhile, supporters praised Bluebonnet Learning for its traditional teaching methods, paper-based instruction, and elimination of screen time.

“There is no AI, no screen time at all,” Ginger Moore said. “The parent can look at it online, but the child is not online.”

Another parent objected to biblical content in a public school curriculum.

“This is what a private school is for,” she said. “It’s not what a public school is for.”

The board will revisit the issue at its March 10 meeting, where a final vote is expected.

The district is also awaiting the Strong Foundations grant announcement on February 20, which, if awarded, would provide funding for teacher training and instructional support related to curriculum implementation.