Fayetteville School Board approves new library policy
Posted on Friday, June 23, 2006
Fayetteville School Board members approved a new school library policy at their regular meeting Thursday evening.
The policy was based on recommendations from a committee that was charged with conducting a comprehensive review of school library policies last semester.
The review was ordered following a strenuous debate over the content of certain books in school libraries. Parent Laurie Taylor had asked that the district restrict student access to books with sexually explicit content by placing them on a restricted access shelf.
The board decided in September it would not restrict student access to specific books. However, the board decided it was time to conduct a review of library policies.
Among the changes is a “ parent preview” time in which new books will be displayed before being placed on the shelves. New books ordered and selected for inclusion in the system will be listed on the district Web site.
Committee member Susan Cromwell demonstrated how to look up information about school libraries using the district’s Web site.
This provides the opportunity for parents to review and be aware of new books, Cromwell said. If a parent finds a book objectionable, they can ask the school librarian put them on a “ do not allow list” that would prevent their child from checking it out.
Under the policy, parents can request that their children not be allowed to check out specific books. Also, they can request that the child not be allowed to check out books from other libraries using interlibrary loan without parental consent.
One of Taylor’s frequent complaints was that young children could allegedly check out inappropriate books from secondary schools using interlibrary loan.
The policy also sets up a library council to oversee the administration of book appeals and other functions of the library.
The policy also provides for the administration to set up a detailed appeals process in case someone makes a formal complaint calling for the removal of a specific book.
Following some questions, the board voted 5-0 to approve the new policy. Board members Susan Heil and Laura Underwood were absent.
Taylor, who did not attend the meeting, said in an interview prior to the meeting she was glad the board was taking steps to make parents more informed and aware of books in the school libraries.
However, the changes do not do enough to ensure children don’t come across explicit books while visiting the library, she said.
“ Compromise where children are concerned is bad judgment, ” she said.
The board also heard two proposals, which were presented last week to the Jefferson Task Force, for using the former Jefferson Elementary School building.
Ralph Nesson spoke about the Jefferson Working Group’s plan to develop a multi-use facility that would house a variety of nonprofit agencies.
Doug Walsh spoke about his group’s idea to develop a building that would house an arts center that would serve the community and provide needed arts space.
Board member Howard Hamilton requested the groups develop a business plan on how they would go about raising money for their ideas and the time frame involved.
Both groups indicated they understood they would need money to pay for the facility. Nesson provided more specifics with a list of projected expenses for the first five years.
Board member Tim Kring, who also oversees the Jefferson Task Force, asked his fellow members to think about the ideas and decide at the July meeting which one should receive an approval to proceed.
Once that is decided, some of the fine details about the rental agreement can hopefully be worked out by the administration, he suggested.
Obviously, the most important question to the groups is “ when will the rent start and how much will it be, ” but that hasn’t been determined, Kring said.
In other business, the board:
• Approved a new policy on employee leave. Certified employees are now required to notify their principal within five days of taking emergency leave as to why the time off was necessary.
• Approved a variety of other policy revisions, including updated policies on professional development, student discipline and promotion or retention of students.
• Authorized the purchase of four route buses for $ 64, 166 each and two special needs buses for $ 66, 989 each from Diamond International Trucks of North Little Rock.
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