Printer-Friendly
Email this Story
Post a Comment (0)
School Board moves toward updated book review policy
School Board members failed to rally behind a proposal for a dramatically changed book review policy that would limit the role of the Superintendent in deciding book challenges and require a public hearing on any decision to withdraw a library material.
Instead, members of the Legislative Policy Review Committee voted 4 to 1 March 4 to consider a proposal that included mostly minor changes, such as clarifications to the wording and the time line of procedures when it comes to challenged materials.
"Frankly the use of a committee for decisions is dead on arrival," said member Bob Ohneiser (Broad Run) in response to the more dramatic proposal presented by John Stevens (Potomac): stopping the superintendent from overruling district-level committees' decisions on whether books can stay in the schools.
"I don't want to take the Superintendent out of any decision making. He is paid to be in charge. I want every employee held accountable for what they do and what they don't do."
In the wake of the recent controversy surrounding "And Tango Makes Three," a children's book about a same-sex penguin couple, members of the School Board are re-examining the county's book review policy.
Problems in the policy led to mistakes being made with this recent book challenge, School Board members have said.
The less dramatic policy was presented by Board Chairman Robert Dupree, Jr. (Dulles), Thomas Reed (At large) and Ohneiser. The current policy has not been changed since 1993.
"I've been here for four years, and this is the first time we've had a book issue rise to this level," Ohneiser said. "Libraries are an important asset to our schools that should be a part of [the Board's] goals."
With this in mind, a clause was added to the proposed policy that would require the Supervisor of Library Services for Loudoun County Public Schools to periodically update the School Board about materials included in library collections and the overall plan for why certain books are and are not included.
With "And Tango Makes Three," the Schools Superintendent Edgar Hatrick III had to reverse his original decision to restrict the book in elementary schools when it was discovered the original complainant was not a parent of any student who attended the school where the book was on the shelf and therefore did not have standing to make the challenge in the first place.
A district-level committee appointed by Hatrick reviewed "And Tango Makes Three" and recommended it stay in circulation, however, Hatrick chose to override this decision saying the book's subject matter was inappropriate for young children.
The policy under consideration by the committee would include a requirement for the superintendent to notify members of the School Board of his decision to withdraw or restrict any challenged material within 15 days.
Upon written request of at least three members of the Board within 30 days of the receipt of this notice, the Board Chairman would then appoint three members to review the book and issue a final decision on its status.
The book review proposal was officially put up for consideration and will be discussed again at the committee's next meeting, 6 p.m. April 2. It will then go to a vote of the entire School Board.
Contact the reporter at ecoe@timespapers.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.