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Reconsideration Policy

Challenges to and Reconsideration of Instructional or Library Materials - Policy KLB

In compliance with Board Policy KLB -  Public Questions, Comments or Concerns Regarding District Instructional/Media/Library Materials, the Board of Education desires to give students, their parents, residents of the district, and district staff the opportunity to challenge the quality and suitability of materials used in the district’s educational programs. The district subscribes to the principles of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

A community member who finds instructional/media/library materials objectionable should first discuss the issue with the teacher or building librarian. Parents may request that their children refrain from using materials or participating in lessons that they find objectionable.
 
If an individual or group desires to make a complaint concerning an Instructional/Media/Library Resource, the following procedures will apply:

School Level Review

  1. The complainant will submit and review the completed form - Request for Reconsideration of Instructional/Media/Library Materials with the school principal. The material in question will remain available for circulation in the school throughout the process.

  2. A school site review committee will be appointed by the principal of the affected building. The committee will include the school librarian or teacher, other certified staff members, and parents with students attending the building. The exact size of the review committee will be at the discretion of the building principal. The committee will select a chairperson from the members appointed by the principal.
  3. The school review committee members will be provided with copies of: (1) the completed Request for Reconsideration of Instructional/Media/Library Materials, (2) the Resource in question, (3) Board policy KLB -  Public Questions, Comments, or Concerns Regarding District Instructional/ Media/Library Materials, (4) Intellectual Freedom Documents, [Library Bill of Rights (ALA), the Student’s Right to Read (NCTE), Freedom to View (ALA), The Freedom to Read (ALA, AAP), Access to Resources and Services in the School Library Media Program (ALA)], and any other relevant materials.
  4. The school principal will take the following actions:
    1. Schedule a Resource review hearing as expeditiously as possible, normally within 30 calendar days of the complaint;
    2. Advise the complainant, the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction, the district subject coordinator, and members of the school-level review committee of the date, time, and location of the Resource review hearing;
    3. Following the hearing and the decision of the committee, give written notice to the complainant, the Superintendent of Schools, the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction and the district subject coordinator of the review committee’s decision concerning retention of the Resource; if the decision is to retain the Resource, the notice shall include the complainant’s right to appeal that decision to a district review committee.

District Level Review

If the matter is appealed in writing to the district level, the following procedures will apply:

  1. A district review committee will be appointed by the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction.  The committee will include a school librarian or teacher, other certified staff members, and parents with students currently attending the district.  The exact size of the review committee will be at the discretion of the assistant superintendent.  The district review committee will not include members from the school review committee.  The assistant superintendent will select a chairperson from the members of the review committee.
  2. The principal will present the findings of the school review committee as part of the school presentation.
  3. The district review committee members will be provided with copies of: (1) the completed Request for Reconsideration of Instructional/Media/Library Materials (2) the Library Resource in question, (3) Board policy KLB -  Public Questions, Comments or Concerns Regarding District Instructional/ Media/Library Materials, (4) Intellectual Freedom Documents, [Library Bill of Rights (ALA), the Student’s Right to Read (NCTE), Freedom to View (ALA), The Freedom to Read (ALA, AAP), Access to Resources and Services in the School Library Media Program (ALA)], and any other relevant materials.
  4. The chairperson of the district review committee will take the following actions:
    1. Schedule a Resource review hearing as expeditiously as possible, normally within 30 calendar days of the complaint;
    2. Advise the complainant, the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction, the district subject coordinator, and members of the district-level review committee of the date, time, and location of the Resource review hearing;
    3. Following the hearing and the decision of the committee, give written notice to the complainant, the Superintendent of Schools, and the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction of the review committee’s decision concerning retention of the Resource; if the decision is to retain the Resource, the notice shall include the complainant’s right to appeal that decision to the Board of Education.

Agenda for Site, District, and Board Review Committee

The agenda for a Resource review hearing will include:

  1. Introductions and review of the hearing agenda;
  2. Presentation of relevant materials as submitted in writing will be shared with all committee members. Complainant will be afforded the opportunity to share concerns in a presentation to the review committee. The Teacher/Librarian will be afforded the opportunity to share the purpose of the resource as it relates to district curriculum. The chairperson may limit the time available for these presentations if necessary and appropriate.
  3. Review committee will review the information provided, evaluate the policy regarding the selection of instructional materials, and make a decision regarding the retention of the Resource in question;
  4. The decision of the review committee will be communicated per B.4.c. of this document.

Board of Education Review

If the matter is appealed to the Board of Education, the following procedures will apply:

  1. Board members will be provided with copies of: (1) the completed Request for Reconsideration of Instructional/Media/Library Materials, (2) the Resource in question, (3) Board policy KLB -  Public Questions, Comments or Concerns Regarding District Instructional/Media/Library Materials, (4) Intellectual Freedom Documents, [Library Bill of Rights (ALA), the Student’s Right to Read (NCTE), Freedom to View (ALA), The Freedom to Read (ALA, AAP), Access to Resources and Services in the School Library Media Program (ALA)], and any other relevant materials.
  2. The President of the Board will take the following actions:
    1. Schedule a Resource review hearing in a time and manner that allows for the appeal to be heard in a timely manner;
    2. Advise the complainant, the Superintendent of Schools, and members of the Board of the date, time, and location of the Resource review hearing;
    3. Following the hearing and the decision of the Board, give written notice to the complainant, the Superintendent of Schools, the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction, and the district subject coordinator of the Board’s decision concerning retention of the Resource. The decision of the Board shall be final.