3030 - (KEC-R) Controversial Issues and Reconsideration of Library Media and Instructional Materials

3030 (KEC-R) Controversial Issues 3030 (KEC-R)

and Reconsideration of Library Media

and Instructional Materials

The Board recognizes that the principles of the freedom to read, inquire, and explore a
variety of books and instructional materials, as well as the professional responsibilities of
the staff must be honored.

Parents/Legal Guardians not in agreement with the school on its selection of books or
other instructional material and who wish a particular book or material to be reviewed
should first request a conversation with the teacher, library media specialist, and/or
Principal to discuss the material and the context of its use by students. If the person
continues to disagree with the selection of a book or other instructional material, they may
follow the procedure below:

1. Invite the parent/legal guardian to submit a formal request in writing using the Request
for Reconsideration of Library Media and Instruction Materials Form found at the school
office or on the District website.

2. Once the completed form is received, the Principal will acknowledge receipt to the
parent/legal guardian requesting reconsideration and schedule meetings necessary to
review the request.

3. Within ten (10) business days, the Principal will form a committee consisting of the
building Principal, necessary faculty and staff members (as appropriate to the material in
question), a library media specialist for library materials, a parent, and a student selected
by the principal if appropriate. The Reconsideration Committee shall have forty five (45)
calendar days to read, research, and discuss the material in question.

4. The committee meeting(s) will be used to:

Read and examine challenged material, keeping in mind the freedom of inquiry,
intellectual freedom, the freedom to read, and any censorship concerns.
Read professionally recognized reviews.
Weigh material values and faults against each other and form opinions based on
the materials as a whole and not on passages pulled out of context.
Provide an opportunity for the person requesting reconsideration to present
objections to the committee prior to the preparation of a report.
Discuss the material and prepare a report including majority and minority opinions.
Vote to decide whether to retain or remove the material.
Within five (5) business days of the Reconsideration Committee completing its
review, a copy of the report will be disseminated to the Superintendent, the School
Board, and the parent/legal guardian requesting reconsideration.
The parent/legal guardian requesting reconsideration may appeal the decision to
the Superintendent of Schools within five (5) business days of the Committee
disseminating its report.
The Superintendent shall make a decision and respond to the parent/legal
guardian requesting reconsideration within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of
the request.
The parent/legal guardian requesting reconsideration may appeal the decision of
the Superintendent to the School Board, who will review the request and make a
determination within thirty (30) calendar days. The School Board’s decision will be
final. Any book or curriculum may not be challenged a second time within a three
(3) year period.
In the event that the Reconsideration Committee presents a report which agrees to
remove a resource as the result of a challenge, the report explaining the basis for
the decision shall be treated as a recommendation and forwarded to the
Superintendent and School Board for review. Upon review of the report, the
Superintendent and the School Board may request that the Principal create a new
Reconsideration Committee to engage in a second review of the request for the
limited purpose of determining whether the first Reconsideration Committee’s
decision was reasonable and lawful. The new Reconsideration Committee shall
consult with legal counsel. This process will follow the same timeline as the initial
committee.

Adopted:10/2022