RELATED STORIES

• New Mexico weekly news roundup

More Local

• ABQTrib.com to remain available
• Former Marine to serve two years in jail for killing Albuquerque robber
• Wilson-Pearce battle for U.S. Senate exemplifies party's disparity

MOST RECENT TRIB STORIES

• ABQTrib.com to remain available
  08:48 a.m., February 25, 2008
• Congressman is indicted
  08:37 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Series of attacks target Green Zone
  08:36 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Iran is defying U.N., agency says
  08:35 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Waterboarding approval probed
  08:34 a.m., February 23, 2008

TRIB IN THE BLOGOSPHERE*

• Ty Murray Invitational thrills fans in Albuquerque
• Is Rome Burning?
• Ominous Skies
• The Road to Invalidation
• Albuquerque company participates in “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”

*Note: The Tribune does not create and is not responsible for the blogosphere's headlines and stories. These links to blogs talking about ABQTrib.com are automatically generated. Use them at your own risk.

STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

SHARE THIS STORY [?]

The American Civil Liberties Union is contemplating legal action against the Rio Rancho School Board over a January vote to continue abstinence-only sex education in the school district, despite state standards that require a broader curriculum.

Meanwhile, ACLU Executive Director Peter Simonson said former school board member Kathy Jackson should not have voted for the abstinence-only curriculum because she is a lobbyist for the company that provides it, Best Choice Educational Service.

Jackson's husband, Rio Rancho Mayor Kevin Jackson, is the executive director of Best Choice.

Both Kevin and Kathy Jackson are registered lobbyists for Best Choice, according to the Secretary of State's Office Web site.

"It would appear there is a conflict of interest whereby Kathy voted for a policy not only in violation of state regulations but also one that benefits an organization she works for," Simonson said today.

Kevin Jackson said his wife chose not to run for re-election to the school board because she wanted to return to nursing. Her term ended this month.

Jackson also said his wife has not done any lobbying work for Best Choice this year. He said she shouldn't have been registered as a lobbyist for the group.

"There was nothing improper here," he said. "One of the reasons she chose not to run for re-election is that we don't want to control our city. We're just servants."

The Rio Rancho School Board voted 4-1 Jan. 22 to continue an abstinence-only sex education program, though several board members raised concerns the policy would violate state Public Education Department requirements.

Those regulations require school districts to provide more comprehensive sex education to seventh- through 12th-graders, including information about birth control and sexually transmitted diseases.

Kris Meurer, director of the Education Department's School and Family Support Bureau, said the department would review Rio Rancho's policies after the legislative session.

"Any district that is not in compliance with the standards will be given a deadline to come into compliance," she said.

Jackson said Best Choice, which is supported by a federal grant, provides abstinence-only education to the school district at no charge.

He said both seventh-graders and ninth-graders take the classes.