Proposed ethnic studies course in Paso Robles sparks larger conversation about diversity and healing on the district s campuses When Susana López reflected on the March 23 Paso Robles Joint Unified School District board meeting, she said it was painful for many reasons. That evening, an ethnic studies course Ethnic Studies: Multicultural America was proposed as an elective for Paso Robles High School students in the fall. Community members and students submitted emails ahead of the meeting and spoke during public comment in support of the proposed course. Ahead of the meeting, board member Dorian Baker called the proposed course poison in a now-deleted Facebook post on her personal page. During the meeting, board member Lance Gannon said he was concerned that students who elect to take this class are going to look at the white students differently. The board approved the ethnic studies course, but amended the curriculum to ensure it was balanced and reviewed the c