Last week, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England presented Scarborough School Superintendent Bill Michaud with the organization’s “Mover and Shaper” award for his stand on the district’s sexual education policy.

“This is one of the highlights of my career,” he said.

Skeek Frazee, communications director of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, said to the best of her knowledge, Michaud is the only superintendent to receive the award. This year’s other recipients were a nurse from New Hampshire and a pediatrician from Vermont.

Michaud was not sure how he was nominated or chosen for the award, but was proud to be recognized for the district’s efforts in teaching sexual education. “The program we have is the program we should have,” he said.

Planned Parenthood said Michaud was given the award because of his strong stand on the district’s sexual education curriculum, which includes a condom demonstration.

“He stood up for his district’s curriculum when it was challenged at several school board meetings, maintaining that it met state regulations for family life education, and worked in his community,” said Chandra Turner, educator for Planned Parenthood of Northern New England. “And he was steadfast in his support for Scarborough teachers, nurses and curriculum staff for their efforts on behalf of younger people.”

Scarborough’s program came under fire last year from parents who felt condom demonstrations were unnecessary and gave students mixed messages.

The school board held several public meetings, reviewed the district’s curriculum and decided to change the parental notification format for the class and to also host parental information nights.

“We just felt he handled it really beautifully,” Frazee said. “He took a stand on behalf of young people.”

Michaud also strongly opposed allowing the district to use a program by Heritage of Maine, a federally funded abstinence-based program that he felt may have not met state requirements regarding health instruction.

Mary Schiavoni, president of Heritage of Maine, was disappointed with Michaud’s reaction when parents asked that the school incorporate her program into the health class.

“He has really disregarded many of the parents’ desires or preferences for their children,” she said, adding the leaders should work with people from all sides of an issue. “I think aligning himself with a special interest group was inappropriate.”

School Board member Dianne Messer did not have a problem with Michaud receiving the award, but said that Planned Parenthood was missing the point.

“I wanted to get rid of the condom demonstration,” she said. “(But) I think it’s a wonderful program.”

Frazee said the majority of Americans support teaching sexual education in schools because it provides students with the knowledge to make good decisions.

“From Planned Parenthood’s perspective, our goal is more talk not less about sexual health,” she said. “Our kids need the tools and factual information to navigate what is a minefield of information or graphic media.”

Apparently Scarborough parents feel the same way. Michaud said 11 parents decided not to allow their children to participate in the lesson while 140 parents agreed to have their child participate. In addition, eight parents attended an informational meeting to learn more about the program.

“I’m ensuring a vocal minority doesn’t take the option away from the vast majority,” Michaud said, adding that accusations that he is placing his career and politics ahead of safety as “absolutely outrageous.”