Wamego High
School's Policies and proceduresChallenged Materials Policy
(USD 320 Board Handbook - IF-R)
Challenges of Materials
Any
person having a complaint about
textbooks,
media center or other instructional materials shall meet with the
principal.
If the matter cannot be resolved, the principal shall notify the
superintendent
and ask the complainant to use a Request
for Review form which is available through building principals
or at the district office. After receiving the completed form,
the
superintendent shall meet with the complainant to discuss the complaint.
If the complaint is not resolved at the meeting with the superintendent, the complainant may request that the board consider the complaint. If the board chooses to consider the complaint, it shall forward all appropriate written materials to a review committee.
Review Committee
When a
review committee is established
by the
board to handle complaints concerning textbooks, media center or
instructional
materials, the review committee shall be composed of:
- the building principal,
- media specialist,
- two subject area specialists and
- two community members.
The
committee's charge shall be:
- to review the material and prepare a written report containing conclusions and recommendations within 30 days;
- to direct a written report to the board; and
- to send the complainant a copy of the report.
The
Review Committee shall:
- Examine and evaluate the material as a whole; consider the district's policy, procedure and philosophy for selection of textbook, instructional materials and media center materials; and
- Weigh strengths and weaknesses and form opinions based upon the selection criteria.
If the
complainant is dissatisfied with
the
committee's recommendation, an appeal of the decision may be made to
the
board for a hearing and final decision. If an appeal is requested
by the complainant, the superintendent shall request that the board
schedule
an appeal and shall prepare in advance of the appeal all appropriate
documentation
for the board's study.
Removing Challenged Materials
Challenged
materials shall not be
removed from
use during the review period.
A
Bill of Rights for Instructional and Library Materials
(USD 320 Board
Handbook,
IFBC-R-6)
Schools are concerned with generating understanding of American freedoms and with the preservation of these freedoms through the development of informed and responsible citizens. to this end, the board asserts that its responsibility for instructional materials and school library materials is as follows:
- To provide materials that will enrich and support the curriculum, taking into consideration the varied interests, abilities and maturity levels of the students served;
- To provide materials that will stimulate growth in factual knowledge, literary appreciation, aesthetic values and ethical standards;
- To provide a background of information which will enable students to make intelligent judgments in their daily life;
- To provide materials on opposing sides of controversial issues so that young citizens may develop under guidance the practice of critical reading and thinking:
- To provide materials representative of the many religious, ethnic and cultural groups and their contributions to our American heritage; and
- To place principle above personal opinion and reason above prejudice in the selection of materials of the highest quality in order to assure a comprehensive collection appropriate for the users of the library.
