School district’s controversial policies about race and gender challenged in court

Parents, students and teachers plan to appeal a ruling made by a Riverside County judge after their request for a preliminary injunction was denied Friday in an effort to halt a local school district’s controversial policies, according to their attorney.

The hearing came after a civil complaint was filed last August against the Temecula Valley Unified School District and members of its board. The complain alleges that two policies, one involving race and the other about gender, infringe on students’ right to education.

One policy passed by the conservative-leaning school board prevents schools from teaching the principles of what the district referred to as “critical race theory.” In the resolution passing the policy, the district called critical race theory a “racist ideology” itself, claiming it assigns “generational guilt and racial guilt for conduct and policies that are long in the past.”

The opposition to the policy calls the district’s definition of critical race theory “vague,” adding that it deprives children of the opportunity to develop critical thinking exercises and to freely discuss ideas.

The other controversial policy steps outside of the classroom but tackles another culturally relevant topic. In August, the district enacted a policy requiring school employees to notify parents if their child decided to be identified as a gender other than what is listed on the student’s birth certificate.

Opponents to the policy included California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who said it caused “grave concern” for a vulnerable population of LGBTQ+ students.

Last week, it was ruled that the suit could continue in court. However, Friday’s request for a preliminary injunction, which would put a hold on the policies until the lawsuit was settled, was denied.

Amanda Mangaser Savage, an attorney representing the parents, students and teachers, said an appeal will be filed.

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“We obviously disagree with [the ruling],” she told KTLA. “We’re really troubled that students in Temecula are — right now — sitting in classrooms and being denied access to concepts that students in almost every other district in the state are receiving.”

The district did not immediately respond to KTLA 5’s request for comment. The school board’s president, Joseph Komrosky, will face a recall election later this year.

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