KRUM — Krum school district officials expect to distribute letters to parents of middle and high school students following the Christmas break on its decision to offer a medical-based human sexuality course.

School board trustees on Wednesday unanimously approved the teaching of the weeklong course, which will be taught in five 45-minute sessions to sixth- through 12th-grade students in the spring.

“We feel it’s the responsible thing to do to provide this curriculum,” said Phil Enis, board president, after the meeting. “I think we’re going about it the right way.”

Public meetings were held on the issue prior to Wednesday’s vote, Enis said, and no parents seemed to object to what will be presented to students.

By law, the district must now send parents a letter about the course, offer parents a summary of the curriculum and make course materials available for parent viewing, among other requirements.

Enis said that parents who are uncomfortable with the material have the choice to opt their child out of the course.

Superintendent Mike Davis said that the curriculum is age-appropriate, and courses taught at the middle school will be different from what’s taught at the high school level. Courses for middle school students will focus on relationship-building skills, self-esteem issues and the consequences of decisions regarding sexual activity, whereas high school discussions will explore medical, legal and psychosocial issues relating to sex.

District officials have said that while the course does not heavily focus on contraceptives or abstinence, it does make students aware of what can result from decisions made regarding sex.

“It’s a very positive curriculum that deals only with facts — no speculations and no ‘how tos,’” Davis said.

The course — put together by district nurses with the assistance of Denton’s Woman to Woman Pregnancy Resource Center — is at no cost to Krum. Courses will be presented to students by nurses and Woman to Woman representatives, district officials said. It will be similar to what the resource center has presented to students in surrounding districts, representatives with the organization said during the Wednesday meeting.

In other action, school board trustees approved the $32,000 purchase of a 3-foot-by-8-foot electronic marquee to be placed at the intersection of Bobcat Boulevard and East McCart Street. The cost of the marquee excludes electricity setup expenses, Davis said. The scrolling marquee will show information regarding district events.

Trustees also approved a resolution for Davis to draft legal paperwork for the sale of a 0.9-acre property owned by the district to the city of Krum. If sold, the property, which connects the district and city’s property and lies adjacent to the middle school gymnasium, could be used for a city library, Davis said. The Texas Education Agency must approve the sale of the property, he said.

BRITNEY TABOR can be reached at 940-566-6876. Her e-mail address is btabor@dentonrc.com .