News 12 at 6 o'clock -- Thursday, October 14, 2010

AUGUSTA, GA. -- For nearly 35 years, school leaders say there's been an abstinence only approach to teen pregnancy and that's not stopping now.

There were rumors the school system was teaming up with Planned Parenthood in a teen pregnancy prevention grant, but Richmond County School Superintendent Dr. Frank Roberson denied that rumor, Thursday afternoon.

School leaders say instituting the Aspire character curriculum doesn't match up with state standards, which is why they say they didn't accept the grant.

"The Richmond County School System does not have and will not have partnerships with agencies regarding abortion or contraceptive education," Dr. Roberson exclaimed.

Dr. Roberson set the record straight, they're not teaming up with any agencies to combat the school system's teen pregnancy problem.

"I think that was good that they did come forth and actually put it out and clear up a lot of misconceptions," Cynthia Rhodes, a Richmond County student's mother, said.

"I don't think they should be afraid of aligning themselves with any organization that's going to help effectively deal with the problem of teen pregnancy," Michael McCullen, another parent, said.

The school system says more than a hundred girls reported being pregnant last school year. To combat that problem, the family dynamics committee will stick with abstinence only education, said school system's director of curriculum and instruction, Stacey Mabray.

"What we're trying to do from a school standpoint is to give kids good information so they can make good choices," Mabray said. "But this is really not a school issue this is a larger family as well as community issue."

School officials say the current sex education program is a part of health education, which is paid by the school district's general fund.

"If you're going to utilize money, use it for programs that are effective not ineffective," McCullen said. "Abstinence only is ineffective."

"I like the current program," Rhodes said after the meeting. "If they're going to let the community organizations come in then I think that should be a parent involvement."

And that's what it will be, no partnerships nor extra time focused on sex education in class because Dr. Roberson says they have to stay focused on their general education first.

"We have to be protective of instructional time," Dr. Roberson added. "We just don't have the luxury or liberty to take away those state mandated standards."

The school system wasn't able to specify how much it costs to operate the current sex education program. They did say it's less than a third of the health program which covers all aspects of health. The proposed program would've focused just on sex education.

Dr. Roberson also said there isn't any truth in rumors being spread that members of the family dynamics committee were connected in anyway to Planned Parenthood.