Volunteers collected enough signatures for ballot

It was a seemingly impossible task, but concerned citizens rose to the occasion. Volunteers across the state collected 266,000 signatures in support of Referendum 90.

In April, the effort was launched to collect the necessary 130,000 signatures but, in seven short weeks, despite no gatherings, we more than doubled that. And, in fact, set the record for the most signatures ever collected on a state referendum. We contributed more than 1000 signatures. This referendum will allow Washington voters to decide on November 3rd whether we want to keep or repeal the new K-12 Comprehensive Sexuality Education law which Governor Inslee signed into law in March.

Even the Lind/Ritzville School boards do not support this law. In an April letter to Governor Inslee, Superintendent Don Vanderholm stated, “This legislative overreach takes away local control in a highly controversial and sensitive area. We understand the need for Human Growth and Development education in our schools. However, we strongly believe local school districts should have majority control when it comes to establishing learning standards in the area of sexual health education. In no other content area do we submit our curriculum to OSPI or any legislative education committee for approval.”

If you would like to know more about why I oppose the exact curriculum the state ‘suggests’ schools use for Kindergarten-4th grade instruction, please contact me. I would be happy to share with you my concerns.

Kim Schofstoll

Ritzville