001. >> I AM GOING TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER TODAY. I DIDN'T EXPECT TO BE IN THE CHAIR SEAT, BUT CHAIR DEENA HEYES IS WITH US ON THE PHONE, SHE HAD ANOTHER CONFLICT TODAY. THEY ARE WORKING THE WRITE-UP UNTIL THE LAST DAY. DEBORAH, WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO DO THE PLEDGE? THANK YOU, WE WILL START THE MEETING WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. SO THIS CALLED SESSION IS FOR CONSIDERATION OF A CHALLENGE TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE TITLED LIFE IS FUNNY. APPRECIATE COUNSEL BEING HERE TODAY AND OUR BOARD CLERK AS I HAVE NOT CHAIRED ONE OF THESE SESSIONS. AS I UNDERSTAND IT THERE'S A PRESENTER
002WHO HAS FILED THE APPEAL AND WE WILL HEAR FROM MR. JIM MORRIS WITH AN ALLOTED TIME OF 10 MINUTES TO PRESENT THEN WE CAN HAVE DISCUSSION AND QUESTIONS BY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AFTER WHICH WE CAN VOTE ON THE APPEAL. >> JUST TO CLARIFY, AFTER MR. MORRIS PRESENTS I BELIEVE THE DISTRICT WILL PRESENT FOR 10 MINUTES AS WELL, AND AFTER THAT I'LL GO OVER THE LEGAL STANDARD WITH YOU ALL. >> THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH. SO MR. MORRIS YOU CAN COME TO THE PODIUM AND MAKE YOUR REMARKS. THANK YOU. >> I WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO GIVE MY REMARKS, STICK AROUND FOR A FEW, MAYBE -- I WILL STICK AROUND AS LONG AS I CAN. I AM ON MY LUNCH BREAK. BEING THIS WASN'T IN THE EVENING IT WAS THE OPBLG OPTION I HAD BUT
003FORTUNATELY IT WORKED OUT. MY NAME IS JIM MORRIS, I LIVE ON CEDAR CHASE DRIVE, I AM HERE ABOUT REMOVING LIFE IS FUNNY FROM NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL. I NEED TO READ THE EXCERPT FRM THE BOOK SO WE CAN FULLY UNDERSTAND WHY I AM MAKING THE REQUEST. I PAUL JIEZ IF IT OFFENDS ANYONE OR MAKES THEM UNCOMFORTABLE. AND I GO, FEEL THIS, AND PUT HER HAND ON MY JEANS OVER MY HARD DICK. SHE LAUGHS AND GOES, WELL, DAMN, THAT'S NOTHING NEW. I LOOK AT HER DEEP EYES AND BIG OLD FEET, SPRINGY LIPS, TUGING, PULLING, WE LIE DOWN AND SHE PULLS OFF MY SHIRT AND I UNBUTTON HER CREAM MINI AND SOON WE'RE SKIN TO SKIN, WARM SEXY MOUTH AND HANDS BRUSHES AND HANDS BRUSHING OVER TI TI.S AND ASS AND STOMACH, LOST, MUSH BRAIN, HEAT, CURVE, SUCKING,
004WET, SHINE PULSY PUSHING PULSING, BREATHING PLUSY, STICKY, ROLLING OVER ACHY STIFF THINGS, SHY FINGERINGS, OH, LORD, GLIDES IN DEEP SWALLOW SUCK ROCKING ACHING -- I DON'T HAVE ALL -- ROCKING, GOD, ALLAH, BUDDHA, KEISHA, THANK YOU. THAT WAS ON PAGE 178, SORRY I DIDN'T GIVE YOU A PAGE NUMBER. THAT'S ON PAGE 178 OF THE BOOK IF YOU WANT TO LOOK IT UP. THAT'S MY MAIN CONCERN AND PROBLEM WITH THIS BOOK. AND I WANTED TO START BY JUST BECAUSE THIS BOOK WAS SELECTD BY PROFEPTIONALS IN THE EDUCATION INDUSTRY TO FIT A CRITERIA DOESN'T MAKE IT RIGHT. ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY WE HAVE SEEN IN GRAPHIC SEXUAL SITUATIONS THAT PARENTS ARE UP IN ARMS ABOUT. PARENTS HAVE BEEN STOPPED IN MEETINGS NR READING BOOKS BECAUSE OF THESE VULGAR AND GRAPHIC DEPICTIONS. IN FACT BOARD MEMBER DEENA SMIS HEYES
005MENTIONED BECAUSE OF THE WAY SHE WAS RAISED SHE WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ABLE TO READ ALOUD NR SALVAGE THE BONES. REALLY? SO YOU'RE SAYING IT WAS OKAY FOR OUR CHILDREN TO ACCESS THESE BOOKS EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T FOR YOU? KEEP IN MIND THE LAWS STATE IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT CONTEXT THE OBSCENE MATERIAL IS IN. I HAVE A QUESTION AND I KNOW YOU CAN'T ANSWER ME HERE, BUT YOU CAN ANSWER IN YOUR HEAD. WOULD YOU WATCH THIS, WHAT I JUST DESCRIBED, AS A MOVIE WITH YOUR 14-YEAR-OLD OR READ IT OUT LOUD TO THEM? ASK YOURSELF THAT, IMAGINE SITTING DOWN WITH YOUR KID SEEING THIS ON LIVE VIDEO OR READING IT TO THEM AND SAYING, OH, THIS IS EDUCATIONAL. AND SUPERINTENDENT OAKLEY WOULD FAITH LEADERS THAT MET WITH YOU IN YOUR BETTER TOGETHER COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW
006BEST TO MOVE OUR COMMUNITY FORWARD APPROVE OF THIS MATERIAL? I DON'T THINK SO. BUT YET THE BOARD CONTINUES TO FORCE THESE MATERIALS INTO THE CLASSROOMS AND MEDIA CENTERS. I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO OPT OUT OUR KIDS AND I WILL ADDRESS THAT IN A MINUTE. NOW LET'S ADDRESS KIDS' CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO OBTAIN THESE MATERIALS. THE KIDS DON'T HAVE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TO OBTAIN THESE MATERIALS, NOT OVER THEIR PARENTS' DECISIONS AND I THOUGHT I PUT IT ON -- EXCUSE ME -- THOUGHT I PUT IT ON DO NOT DISTURB. AND THAT MAY SOUND HARSH BUT KIDS WILL MAKE ALL KINDS OF DECISIONS EITHER BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY KNOW BETTER, THEY WANT TO TRY IT BECAUSE IT'S TABOO, OR THEY ARE REBELING WHICH IS NORMAL FOR KIDS THEIR AGE. YOU MAY BE SHOCKED BUT I TOLD MY 18-YEAR-OLD
007THAT IT'S HER DECISION WHETHER SHE READS SALVAGE THE BONES IN HER AP LIT CLASS. I ALSO TOLD HER I HOPED SHE WOULD PICK SOMETHING ELSE AND AS AN ADULT HE'S HER CHOICE. BUT HIGH SCHOOL IS NOT ONLY 18-YEAR-OLDS. THIS EXCERPT IS NOT ON MASTURBATION AND IT'S INSENSITIVE ON MANY LECHLS AS IT SHOWS NO RESPECT FOR WOMEN, THE READER AND RELIGION, CHRISTIAN, MUSLIM AND BUDDHIST. I'M SURE FELLOW CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS AND BUDDHISTS WOULD BE OUTRAGED IF THEY KNEW THEIR GOD'S NAME WAS USED IN A DESCRIPTION OF A SEXUAL HOOK-UP BETWEEN TWO TEENAGERS. I WOULD SAY THE SEXUALIZATION OF OUR YOUTH HAS HURT THEM AND THE PROOF IS IN THE DRUGS, DEPRESSION, SUICIDES, PREGNANCIES, VIOLENCE AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR THAT ARE MORE AND MORE PREVALENT AND THAT OUR KIDS ARE INVOLVED IN. I ALSO WANT TO RESPOND TO A
008STUDY THAT WAS BROUGHT UP IN THE LAST APPEAL. ACCORDING TO A STUDY BY MISS ROBINSON AND OTHERS EXPOSING KLIRPB TO OVERLY GRAPHIC SEXUAL CONTENT MAKES THEM MORE CONFIDENT AND LESS LIKELY TO BE AT RISK FOR EARLY SEXUAL AK THAIFT COULD LEAD TO OTHER PROBLEMS AND NOT EXPOSING THEM COULD CEMENT RISK FOR ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS. BUT LET'S LOOK AT SOME BASIC FACTS. SWEDEN, LIKE MANY NORDIC COUNTRIES, IS MORE OPEN ABOUT SEX WITH THEIR YOUTH AND THEIR MEDIAN AGE FOR TEENAGE SEX IS 15 YEARS. YOU KNOW WHAT THE UNITED STATES IS? 17 YEARS. WE ALSO KNOW THAT EARLY SEXUAL ACTIVITY LEADS TO RISKY AND DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR THAT CAN HAVE DISASTEROUS RESULTS. SO HOW IS BEING INNOCENT DANGEROUS, WHICH WE ARE TOLD AGAIN AND AGAIN IN THAT STUDY? I WAS INNOCENT AND I'M OKAY. MISS HAYES, FROM
009YOUR STATEMENTS EARLIER ABOUT YOUR CONSERVATIVE UPBRINGING, YOU WERE INNOCENT AND YOU ARE OKAY. INNOCENCE IS OKAY AND CHILDREN CAN ONLY HANDLE WHAT THEY ARE MATURE IF YOU HAVE TO. PUSHING THEM BEYOND THAT TRAUMATIZES THEM AND JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T EXPOSE THEM TO SMUT DOESN'T MEAN THEY ARE NAIVE. MY DAUGHTERS ARE WELL AWARE OF THE FACTS OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD AND THEY KNOW HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES. SO IF EXPOSING YOUNGER AGE CHILDREN TO GRAPHIC SEX IS SUPPOSED TO KEEP NEPL FROM TRYING SEX AT AN EARLY AGE, THEN WHY IS THAT NOT THE CASE IN SWEDEN WHERE THE MEDIAN AGE IS 15 YEARS OLD AND THEY ARE MORE OPEN ABOUT IT AND SO IS ICELAND AND FINLAND AND NO, I DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO CONTROL WHAT OTHER KIDS VIEW BUT IF FOLLOWING GUIDANCE
010FROM A FLAWED STUDY BREAKING THE LAW AND UPSETTING PARENTS SO MUCH THEY ARE PULLING THEIR KIDS OUT, WHICH WILL WEAKEN THE SCHOOLS, THEN WHY ARE THEY PUTTING THESE BOOKS IN THE LIBRARY AND CURRICULUM WHEN THEY COULD USE BOOKS THAT DELIVER THE SAME MESSAGE WITHOUT BEING SO GRAPHIC? I'M NOT HERE TO ARGUE, FIGHT, START A LAWSUIT OR BAN BOOKS. I'M HERE TO HELP COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON PROTECTING MINORS, PROTECTING PARENTS' RIGHTS AND WORKING WITH THE SCHOOL ON THIS SITUATION. ATZ YOU KNOW THERE'S A STATUTE STATING SCHOOLS CANNOT PROMOTE SEX THAT DEPICTS OR DESCRIBES ANYTHING OBSCENE. PART OF THAT DEFINITION IS ANYTHING DESCRIBING PATENTLY OFFENSIVE SEXUAL CONDUCT AND SEE GENERAL STATUTE 14190.1. SCHOOLS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ENCOURAGING STUDENTS TO RESPECT THE LAW, NOT BREAK IT LIKE THE SCHOOLS ARE. WHILE YOU CAN ARGUE A BOOK'S
011ARTISTIC OR EDUCATIONAL VALUE IF PART OF THAT BOOK BECOMES GRAPHIC AND HAS OFFENSIVE SEXUAL CONDUCT IT HAS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE UNDERSTANDING OF THIS STATUTE. STORIES CAN BE TOLD AND UNDERSTOOD WITHOUT GOING INTO GRAPHIC DETAIL. AND WHILE KIDS CAN GET PORNOGRAPHY OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL, SCHOOLS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO PROMOTE PORNOGRAPHY JUST LIKE THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO PROMOTE DRUG USE. PARENTS HAVE RIGHTS ON WHAT THEIR CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO IN SCHOOL AND THOSE RIGHTS HAVE TO BE RESPECTED, ESPECIALLY IN REGARDS TO MINORS. THE SCHOOLS ARE OPENING THEMSELVES UP TO LAWSUITS, WITHDRAWAL OF STUDENTS, WHICH MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS HAVE DONE AND UNHAPPY ANGRY PARENTS. IF THEY CONTINUE DOWN THIS ROAD THEY WILL ONLY CONTINUE TO MAKE PARENTS ANGRY AND RISK LIABILITY. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS GOING TO HAVE TO ADDRESS IT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
012LET'S SEE IF A COMPROMISE CAN BE REACHED THAT MAKES PARENTS, SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS HAPPY. I SUGGEST AN OPT-IN LIST FOR ALL QUESTIONABLE MATERIALS IN THE MEDIA CENTER. THESE BOOKS WILL BE KEPT IN A SEPARATE AREA WHERE A STUDENT WOULD HAVE TO BE IN ON AN OPT-IN LIST TO ACCESS. THE SCHOOL WILL KEEP AN LIST OF THESE ON HAND AND PARENTS WOULD HAVE TO SIGN AN OPT-IN FORM AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR TO ACCESS THOSE MATERIALS. I FEEL LIKE THIS SOLUTION PROTECTS MINORS, PROTECTS PARENTS' RIGHTS AND CONTINUES TO LET THE SCHOOLS HAVE THESE MATERIALS IF THEY WANT. IT WOULDN'T BE HARD TO ACCOMPLISH AND WOULD SOLVE THE ISSUE. THAT IS WHY I PREFER THIS OVER TAKING THE BOOK OUT, BUT TAKING THE BOOK OUT WAS MY ONLY OPTION. I HAD NO OTHER OPTION BUT I
013PREFER AN OPT-IN LIST. I WOULD LOVE TO GET TOGETHER AT DR. OAKLEY'S BETTER TOGETHER SESSIONS AND WORK SOMETHING OUT AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. >> WE WILL ALSO NOW HEAR FROM A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE DISTRICT ABOUT THE RESOURCE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, DR. OAKLEY AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, I AM NATALIE STRANGE, DIRECTOR OF LIBRARY SERVICES FOR OUR SCHOOLS. THE LOOKING AT THE DISTRICT DECISION TO KEEP THIS BOOK AVAILABLE IN SCHOOL AND CLASSROOM LIBRARIES. THE REVIEW THE PURPOSE OF OUR SCHOOL LIBRARY, THE PROCESS OF HOW WE DECIDE WHAT GOES INTO A LIBRARY AND THE SPECIFIC SELECTION OF LIFE IS FUNNY. IN OUR SCHOOLS WE HOPE TO PROVIDE BOOKS THAT APPEAR AS MIRRORS FOR STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO SEE THEMSELVES, WINDOWS FOR READERS TO BE ABLE
014TO LEARN ABOUT OTHERS, BORLD OF IMAGINATION DREAMING OF POSSIBILITIES. SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA COORDINATORS FOLG POLICY 3200 TO GUIDE DECISIONS ON WHICH RESOURCES WE ADD TO THIS SELECTION. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR SELECTIONS ARE ALIGNED WTD CURRICULUM AND ALSO SFOERT READER READING. OUR LIBRARIES CONTAIN BOOKS THAT REPRESENT ALL ASPECTS OF THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE. WE HOPE TO HELP OUR STUDENTS UNDERSTAND BETTER CURRENT WORLD ISSUES, INCREASE AWARENESS ABOUT SOCIAL PRACTICES AND PROMOTE UNITY AND EMPATHY. TO BE A SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA COORDINATOR IN NORTH CAROLINA YOU HAVE A MASTER'S DEGREE FROM AN ACCREDITED UNIVERSITY IN LIBRARY INFORMATION SCIENCE. THERE OUR LIBRARIANS LEARN TO ANALYZE SCHOOL DATA AND USE UNBIASD TOOLS THAT ARE UNIQUE TO OUR SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT. THE PROCESS IS CONSTANT NOT WITH SCHOOL LIBRARIANS ANALYZING IF WHAT'S ON THEIR SCHOOLS ALIGNS WITH THE INTERESTS OF THE SCHOOL
015COMMUNITY. EACH OF OUR COLLECTIONS SHOULD BE UNIQUE AND REPRESENTATIVE OF THAT SCHOOL. AOA'S STATEMENT OF ACCESS TO RESOURCES REMINDS US ABOUT NOT MAKING EMOTIONAL DECISIONS BUT BASING OUR DECISIONS ON WHAT'S SELECTED BY EXPERTS AND BASED ON EVALUATION OF LOCAL CRITERIA. NATIONWIDE RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT READING, WRITING AND GRADUATION RATES IMPROVE ARE WHERE SCHOOLS EMPLOY CERTAIN SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA COORDINATORS. INITIAL RESEARCH SUPPORTS THAT SCHOOLS WITH HIGHER CIRCULATION RATES HAVE A POSITIVE RATES WITH THEIR EOC AND EOG TEST SCORES. EVERY YEAR OUR SCHOOL LIBRARY YEAH MEDIA COORDINATORS CAFTD A COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT PLAN IN COLLABORATION WITH THEIR SCHOOLS MEDIA TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THAT COMMITTEE CONSTRICTS OF ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS AND CAN HAVE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AS WELL AS OUTLINED IN POLICY 3200. THIS IS THE PROCESS BY WHICH THEY DETERMINE WHICH BOOKS THEY SHOULD ADD TO THEIR COLLECTION AND EVALUATE
016THEIR CURRENT KLOEXES. THEY START WITH A GENERAL INVENTORY OF WHAT'S IN THEIR SCHOOL AND THEN THEY ANALYZE THEIR STUDENT POPULATION. THIS DATA YOU SEE ON THE GCS DATA DASHBOARD OUR SCHOOL LIBRARIES SHOULD REPRESENT THE DIVERSITY OF OUR STUDENT POPULATION. GETTING INTO WHAT THEIR LOCAL SCHOOL LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE, THIS IS THE PLAN FROM NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL. YOU LOOK AT SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES THAT SHOULD BE REFLECTED IN THEIR COLLECTION. THEY THEN DETERMINE WHAT SPECIAL AREAS THEY WANT TO USE FOR FOCUS. IN THIS CASE INCREASING THE VOLUME OF SELF-SELECTED INDEPENDENT READING. MEDIA COORDINATORS LOOK AT THEIR EXISTING COLLECTIONS TO SEE HOW THEY ALIGN WITH THAT SCHOOL DATA AND GOALS. DIGGING INTO THE NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL'S COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT PLAN, YOU CAN SEE THAT 8 PERCENT OF THIS GENERAL FICTION TITLES WERE CONSIDERED AFRICAN AMERICAN AND 2
017PERCENT CONSIDERED HISPANIC OR LATIN X. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REPRESENTING THE STUDENTS OF THE SCHOOL SO EVALUATING WHAT'S ON THE SHELVES NOW IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THAT. EMMY HARRIS ALSO USED BONN FACTORS IN THIS CASE A PERFECT BALANCE OF CIRCULATION, THE CIRCULATION HOLDINGS, WOULD RESULT IN 1. HIGHER NUMBERS INDICATE AREAS WHERE IT'S HIGHER IN THE COLLECTION, THE TOP CIRCULATING AREAS ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN PURPLE TO INDICATE AREAS THAT NEED GROWTH. LIECH IS FUNNY IS IN ONE. TOP 5 CIRCULATING GENRES. THE SPECIFIC SELECTION OF LIFE IS FUNNY, I WAS ONE OF THE 2 SCHOOL LIBRARIANS WHO OPENED NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL. AS SUCH I WOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THE TEAM THAT HELPED SELECT THE BOOKS FOR THAT OPENING DAY COLLECTION, OF WHICH THIS BOOK WAS ONE. THESE ARE THE AREAS FOR POLICY 3200
018THAT WE REFERRED TO SPECIFIC TO THE SELECTION OF READER READING MATERIAL TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS. LOOKING AT REVIEWS, THESE ARE THE UNBIASED SELECTION TOOLS THAT HAVE POSITIVE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LIFE IS FUNNY. SPECIFICALLY FROM SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL SUGGEST THE BOOK FOR GRADES 9 UP, FEATURING A MULTI CULTURAL CAST OF CHARACTERS WHOSE LIVES INTERSECT OVER 7 YEARS. THE CHARACTERS REMAIN HOPEFUL AS THEY REACH OUT TO EACH OTHER TO OVERCOME THE TRIALS OF THEIR LIVES.THE CHARACTERS AND THEIR ARE DISTINCT, EACH CHARACTER WRITTEN AS IF BY A TEEN THEMSELVES. THA THOUGH GINGERBREAD AND KEISHA FIND LOVE, ALTHOUGH GINGERBREAD SUFFERS WITH ATTENTION ISSUES. HIS FAMILY IS SFOERTIVE AND HIS TEACHERS HELP HIM FIND SUCCESS IN SCHOOLS. HIS SCENES ARE CLEAR AND WRITTEN WITH THE VOICE OF A NEURODIVERSE TEEN. DO STUDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO ACCESS AND READ THIS MATERIAL?
019IN GCS WE HAVE A CLEAR SELECTION POLICY OUTLINED IN POLICY DLOO00 IDENTIFYING THE FACTORS AROUND RESEARCH SELECTION, RETENTION AND AWILL YOUING FOR THE CHALLENGE PROCESS. PARENTS'S TOOLS FOR SELECTION. I ENCOURAGE FAMILY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT READING. TALK TO STUDENTS ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE READING AND HELP TO GUIDE THEIR CHOICINGS. SHARE YOUR PREFRPBLSINGS WITH YOUR SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA COORDINATOR AND THEY WILL HELP TO FIND BOOKS THAT YOU AND YOUR STUDENTS CAN ENJOY THAT ARE WITHIN YOUR CRITERIA. YOU CAN SEARCH FOR ONLINE CATALOGS FROM HOME, OUR ONLINE ACCESS CATALOG. IT'S OPEN TO SEARCH AS A VISITOR. WHEN STUDENTS LOG IN THEY WILL SEE CURE RATED CONTENT BASED00 THEIR GRADE LEVELS .D VISITORS MAY SEE DIFFERENT TITLES. AT THE NORTHERN HIGH LIBRARY THE LIBRARY IS OPEN FROM 9 AM TO 4.30. PARENTS CAN COME IN AS A VISITOR TO PREVIEW
020BOOKS WITH A SCHOOL LIBRARIAN. THEY CAN CHECK OUT BOOKS TO PREVIEW ON THEIR OWN TIME OR MEET WITH A SCHOOL LIBRARIAN TO SET UP PARAMETERS FOR HIS OR HER STUDENT POPULATION INTEREST FOR THEIR CIRCULATION. LIFE IS FUNNY IS IS ONE OF MANY OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS AT NORTHERN TO CHOOSE FROM. THEY HAVE OVER 12,000 PHYSICAL BOOKS IN THEIR SCHOOL LIBRARY, AN ADDITIONAL 12,000 E BOOKS, AUDIO BOOKS AND INTERACTIVE BOOKS. THAT'S A LOT OF OPTIONS FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR FAMILYINGS TO CHOOSE FROM. I'M PROUD TO BE PART OF A DISTRICT WITH A STRONG POLICY ALLOWING FOR CHOICE AND RECONSIDERATION OF MATERIALS THROUGH PUBLIC MEETINGS, THROUGH OPEN DISCUSSION OF BOOKS AND IDEAS. WE ALL BECOME STRONGER. THANK YOU. . >> THANK YOU. COUNSEL, YOU WILL REVIEW THE LEGAL PRECEDENT. >> THANK YOU. SO AS YOU THINK
021ABOUT THIS BOOK JUST TO REMIND YOU OF THE LEGAL STANDARD HERE, THE BOARD HAS DISCRETION TO DETERMINE THE MERITS OF THE CHALLENGE AND WHETHER TO RETAIN OR REMOVE BOOKS. HOWEVER, THAT DISCRETION MAY NOT BE EXERCISED IN A NARROWLY POLITICAL OR PARTISAN MANNER. SO THE REASONS FOR REMOVAL MUST BE CONSTITUTIONAL. THE REASONS THAT THE BOARD MAY REMOVE THE BOOK ARE THAT THE BOOK IS, A, EDUCATIONALLY UNSUITABLE, B, PER VASIVELY VULGAR OR, C, INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE AGE, MATERIALITY OR GRADE LEVEL OF THE STUDENT. HOWEVER, THE BOARD MAY NOT REMOVE THE BOOKS IF THE REASON FOR DOING SO IS BECAUSE IT DISAGREES WITH THE IDEAS OR IN AN EFFORT TO SUPPRESS IDEAS. THAT'S THE GENERAL FRAMEWORK THE REASONS FOR REMOVING THE BOOK ARE REALLY IMPORTANT AS YOU GO THROUGH THIS DISCUSSION. >> THANK YOU. I DO WANT TO
022NOTE THIS IS NOT IN REQUIRED CURRICULUM AS THE LAST BOOK WE REVIEWED. IT'S IN THE LIBRARY. I ASKED. IT'S BEEN CHECKED OUT 3 TIMES SINCE 2013, ONCE IN 2013, ONCE IN 2016, AND ONCE IN 2022. IT'S NOT BEEN RETURNED. SO I HAVE SOME CURIOUSNESS OVER WHY WE'RE HERE, WHO DECIDED THAT A CHILD REAL BRING THE BOOK HOME, WAS IT ON A NATIONALLY CIRCULATED LIST THAT SOMEBODY DECIDED TO MAKE AN ISSUE OF IN THE BRAURDER CONTEXT IN WHICH WE ARE HERE. BUT WE'RE HERE. BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO NOTE, ONE, BECAUSE WE HAD A SESSION RECENTLY THAT HAD IT IN CURRICULUM AND, 2, THE CURRENT RECORD OF USE OF THE BOOK OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. LINDA, YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP THEN DIANE THEN DEBORAH. >> CHECK IT OUT AND NOT RETURN IT.
023>> I DID READ IT FROM COVER TO COVER AND THE SEXUAL CONTENT DIDN'T GET IN THE WAY BUT EVEN BEFORE THE SEXUAL CONTENT I WOULD HAVE CONCERNED WITH A 14-YEAR-OLD READING ABOUT SUICIDE, ABOUT CUTING THEMSELVES, ABOUT A LOT OF THE TOPICS IN HERE WITHOUT ME KNOWING ABOUT IT. OKAY? AND THE PROBLEM WITH THIS BOOK, LIFE IS FUNNY, THERE IS NOT ONE THING ON HERE THAT WOULD TELL YOU THAT THIS MAY BE A BOOK WITH SOME CHALLENGING TOPICS ON IT, THAT THIS MAY BE A BOOK WITH EXPLICIT SEX IN IT. 14-YEAR-OLDS CAN BE VERY IMMATURE AND INSTEAD OF MAKING THEM, IT COULD MAKE THEM CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT ALL THIS IS TALKINGING ABOUT. OKAY? BECAUSE THERE AGAIN WE ARE ASSUMING THAT ALL CHILDREN ARE AT THIS LEVEL OF MATURITY AND WISDOM AND EVERYTHING AND I CAN ASSURE
024YOU NOT ALL CHILDREN ARE AS AWARE OF SEXUAL EXPLOITS AND ALL THESE THINGS AT 14. I MEAN THERE ARE SOME AND THERE ARE SOME NOT. REAL PROBLEM -- THE OTHER THING WITH THIS BOOK, THERE WAS NEVER A PLOT SITUATION WHERE I COULD FOLLOW THE PLOT. IT JUMPED AROUND SO MUCH I'M, LIKE, OKAY, WHERE AM I AT NOW? WHO AM I TALKING ABOUT? IT KIND OF LIKE A CHAPTER ON EACH INDIVIDUAL AND THEN AS THE STORY GOES ON SOMEHOW THERE'S A MINOR CONNECTION BETWEEN THEM. SO, YES, THIS IS HIGH SCHOOL, I'M GLAD TO AT LEAST KNOW THAT, BUT STILL WHEN I THINK OF MY 14-YEAR-OLD SON OR DAUGHTER GETTING THIS AND STARTING TO READ THIS WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE OF READING IT AND WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE OF THE CONTENTS IN IT I WOULD BE CONCERNED. BECAUSE THIS
025IS NOT SOMETHING THEY NEED TO READ WITHOUT HAVING SOME DISCUSSION WITH AN ADULT TO DISCUSS IT WITH THEM. BUT I WOULD HAVE NO CLUE THAT THEY READ THIS, I WILL HAVE NO CLUE THAT IT TALKS ABOUT CUTTING YOU, I HAVE NO CLUE THAT IT TALKS ABOUT SUICIDE, I HAVE NO CLUE OF THE MULTITUDE OF NOT POSITIVE SITUATIONS. THEY DO HAPPEN. WE ALL KNOW THESE THINGS HAPPEN. HOWEVER, IS THIS HOW I WANT MY CHILD TO DEAL WITH IT OR WOULD THEY EVEN DEAL WITH IT? WOULD THEY BRING IT TO ME? WOULD THEY BE ASHAMED OF BRINGING THIS TO ME. WOULD THEY BE OPEN TO BRING THIS TO ME. SO NOW THEY'VE READ A BOOK WITH A LOT OF TOPICS THAT ARE DISTURBING AND I DON'T HAVE A CLUE THEY'VE READ IT, NOR DO, WHEN THEY START
026IT, DO THEY REALLY HAVE A CLUE WHAT THEY'RE GETTING INTO. I'VE READ THIS. THERE IS NOTHING ON HERE THAT IDENTIFIES WHAT'S IN THIS BOOK. SO THERE'S MY PROBLEM. I DO BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO HAVE JUST -- IF WE'RE GOING TO THIS LEVEL OF BOOK THEN THE BOOK NEEDS TO SAY, GRAPHIC SEX, TOPICS THAT ARE QUESTIONABLE, THIS MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR A 14-YEAR-OLD. IF YOU GOT TO DO PG13 AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE PERMISSION TO WATCH A MOVIE AT A CERTAIN AGE, THEN THIS IS CROSSING THE LINE FOR ME AND THAT'S WHERE I'M AT. DO I WANT TO BAN THE BOOK? NO. DO I WANT TO NOTE MY CHILD TO KNOW, HEY, THIS IS NOT SUCH A GREAT -- THIS HAS GOT A LOT OF DEEP STUFF IN IT, IT HAS EXPLICIT SEX IN
027IT OR I WANT TO HAVE NOTIFICATION THAT MY CHILD IS READING A BOOK THAT HAS CUTTING IN IT. SOME CHILDREN DO, SOME CHILDREN COULDN'T. THAT'S MY TAKE ON IT. I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS LEVEL OF CONTENT IN OUR LIBRARIES THERE STHUD BE SOME LEVEL OF ASSOCIATION ATTACHED TO THE BOOK TO IDENTIFY THAT'S IN THERE. >> DIANE. >> A COUPLE QUESTIONS. >> DISTRICT STAFF. >> YES CAN, FOR THE LADY THAT WAS UP HERE. >> MISS STRANGE. >> CAN YOU IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL GIVE WHAT THE BASIC REASON IS FOR HAVING READING CENTERS. >> THE BASIC REASON FOR HAVING MEDIA CENTERS PROVIDE A PLACE TO SPOERTD LITERACY ACROSS THE SCHOOL SO NOT ONLY ARE WE COLLABORATING WITH THOSE CLASSROOM AREAS OF CORE SUBJECTS AND SPOERTDING THAT, BUT WE'RE ALSO SUPPORTING STUDENTS' LEISURE READING, SELF-SELECTED LEISURE
028READING. WE'RE THERE TO SUPPORT THAT, TO HAVE FULL COLLECTIONS THAT SHOW OUR STUDENTS THEMSELVES ON THE SHELFS AS WELL AS HELPING THEM TO LEARN ABOUT OTHERS AND WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD. >> MY NEXT QUESTION IS WHAT DO EDUCATORS BELIEVE IS THE KEY REASON TO ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO READ. EITHER YOU CAN ANSWER OR YOU CAN -- >> WELL, I MEAN ANY EXPOSURE TO LITERACY IS HOW YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE WORLD. IT'S A FOCUS OF THE BOARD, IT'S A FOCUS OF HOW WE'VE INVESTED RESOURCES BECAUSE WE WANT TO GRADUATE LITERATE CITIZENS. >> FIRST OF ALL, WE TRYING TO CLOSE PANDORA'S BOX BUT PANDORA'S BOX WAS OPEN A LONG TIME AGO. I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION FOR YOU. SORRY, LET ME DO THAT SO YOU CAN SIT DOWN. I DON'T SEE A PAGE NUMBER. >> OKAY,
029THE BONN USE FACTOR. >> CAN YOU GIVE A LITTLE MORE DESCRIPTION OF WHAT ROMANTIC FICTION IS. >> THAT'S GOING TO VARY BY SCHOOLS. SOME SCHOOLS ARE VERIFIED AND SOME ARE NOT JUST LIKE YOU WOULD WALK INTO A BARNES AND NOBLE. ROW RO MAN PARTICULAR FICTION IS GOING TO RESOLVE AROUND RELATIONSHIPS. >> COULD YOU GIVE ME A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT HORROR FICTION IS. >> HORROR FICTION WHEN IT COMES TO HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARIES WILL USUALLY INVOLVE A SETTING OR SCENE THAT'S GOING TO BE SET IN SOMETHING WE WOULD CONSIDER TO BE MAYBE GOTHIC OR SCARY. A LOT OF THE GENRE RECOMMENDATIONS CAN BE FOUND IN THOSE REVIEWS. SCARY BOOKS MAY ALSO INVOLVE SUPERNATURAL OCCURRENCES. >> SO WOULD HARRY POTTER BE A HORROR. >> THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE A FANTASY WHEN WE LOOK AT THOSE GENRES. USE OF
030MAGIC WILL PUT YOU IN A FANTASY GENRE. >> [INDISCERNIBLE]. >> THIS HAS CHANGED A COUPLE TIMES. BLACK LIVES LITERATURE WILL FOCUS ON AFRICAN AMERICAN STORIES. >> WILL THOSE STORIES INCLUDE SLAVERY. >> IT MIGHT. IT INCLUDES THE FICTION GENRE SO IT COULD BE BOOKS THAT FICTIONALIZE SITUATIONS WHICH WOULD INCLUDE SLAVERY. >> PANDORA'S BOX WAS OPENED A LONG TIME AGO. IT STARTED WHEN WE HAD 3 CHANNELS ON TV, NOW WE HAVE 3,000. CHILDREN CAN ACCESS ALMOST ANYTHING THEY WANT TO KNOW FROM HOW TO COOK A BURGER TO HOW TO DO WHATEVER AND SOMETIMES I THINK WE HAVE SEEN THAT SOME OF THE BEHAVIORS OF CHILDREN HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGED BY WHAT THEY HAVE SEEN IN THE VARIOUS MOVIES LIKE TIKTOK LIKE HOLDING YOUR BREATH UNTIL YOU PASS OUT OR WHATEVER OTHER KIND OF FOOLISHNESS. WE CAN'T HIDE THE
031ILLS OF LIFE FROM OUR CHILDREN. BANNING BOOKS, BOOKS THAT ARE BANNED ARE A LOT OF TIMES BOOKS THAT TEACH IMPORTANT MOMENTS OF HISTORY. THE STORIES OF BOOKS THAT HAVE BEEN BANNED INSPIRE US AND ARE REALISTIC AND TRUTHFUL. NOW, WE MAY NOT LIKE REALISTIC BUT EVERYBODY SITTING IN THIS ROOM HAS LIVED LIFE TO THE POINT WHERE YOU ARE NOW AND EVERYTHING IN YOUR LIFE HAS NOT NECESSARILY BEEN PRETTY. YOU HAD PERHAPS UGLY THINGS HAPPEN, YOU HAVE HAD SAD THINGS HAPPEN, YOU HAVE HAD HAPPY THINGS HAPPEN. SO WE CAN'T HIDE LIFE. AND TO HAVE -- AND WE TALK ABOUT IT. SO WHEN YOU HAVE EXPERIENCES YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT THOSE EXPERIENCES WITH SOMEBODY. I THINK THAT, AS I SAID LAST WEEK, TO BOX OUR KIDS IN AND NOT ALLOW THEM TO BE CURIOUS ENOUGH TO READ SOMETHING
032AND ASK ABOUT IT I THINK THAT IF YOUR DAUGHTERS SEE SOMETHING YOU EXPECT AND THEY PROBABLY DO COME TO SAY, DADDY, WHAT IS THAT? WHAT IS THAT ABOUT AND YOU DECIDALITY WHAT LEVEL YOU WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE CURIOUS ABOUT. BOOKS THAT ARE BANNED, NOT ALL BOOKS HAVE BAD LANGUAGE IN THEM BUT I THINK WE'RE AFRAID OF THINKING AND RIGHT NOW WE NEED PEOPLE TO THINK AND WE NEED THEM TO THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX, WHETHER IT'S ABOUT HOW WE TEACH CHILDREN GOING FORWARD, ABOUT HOW WE SOLVE THE VARIOUS ILLS IN THE WORLD. FOLKS HAVE GOT TO GO THERE IN ORDER TO GET THERE. OUR CHILDREN ARE THESE AMAZING CREATURES THAT ARE TRYING TO LEARN BECAUSE WE'VE TOLD THEM -- BECAUSE IF WE DON'T WANT CHILDREN TO LEARN WE WOULD KEEP THEM AT
033HOME AND KEEP THEM IN THEIR ROOMS AND NEVER LET THEM SEE TV, RADIO OR ANYTHING. BUT EVEN IF YOU DID THAT, YOUR CHILD WOULD LOOK OUT THE WINDOW AND SEE LIFE AND ASK YOU, WHY ARE THE BIRDS SINGING OR -- SO YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO CONTAIN THEM. SO THE BEST THING TO DO IS TO ACTIVELY ACT WITH THEM. NOW, LIBRARIES, WHETHER IT'S IN OUR SYSTEM OR PUBLIC LIBRARIES, THEY WERE PUT HERE TO GIVE EVERYDAY PEOPLE -- PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY EXPENSIVE BOOKS, AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE BOOKS, TO HAVE THEM AND BRING THEM BACK. WHOEVER TOOK THIS BOOK OUT OF NORTHERN LIBRARY, YOU NEED TO BRING IT BACK. THAT'S WHAT WE DO, WE SHARE. THIS PUBLIC SYSTEM THAT WE'VE CREATED AND INVESTED IN SINCE 1800, EVER SINCE WE STARTED CREATING BOOKS
034FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO SHARE AND HAVE ACCESS TO BOOKS. I THINK THE KEY WORD HERE IS THE CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO THE BOOKS IN THE MEDIA CENTER. THE CHILD HAS TO CHECK THAT BOOK OUT AND THERE'S A MEDIA SPECIALIST IN EACH CENTER SO IF A KID PICKS UP A BOOK AND IS CURIOUS ABOUT IT AND WANTS TO KNOW, IS THIS SOMETHING YOU THINK I SHOULD READ, THEY CAN GET THAT ADVICE FROM THE MEDIA SPECIALIST, IS THAT CORRECT. >> YES. THEY HAVEN'T READ EVERY BOOK THAT'S IN THE LIBRARIB THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THE DESCRIPTION, LEXILE, ALL THE THINGS THAT HAVE A DESCRIPTION OF THE SUMMARY OF THE BOOK WITHIN THE SYSTEM. >> LET ME ASK YOU THIS QUESTION. THE E BOOKS, DO THE KIDS JUST GO STRAIGHT TO THE E BOOKS ON THEIR OWN
035OR DO THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE MEDIA SPECIALIST. >> WHEN YOU LEARN HOW TO DO THINGS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, WHETHER IT'S PHYSICALLY CHECK OUT A BACK OR USE THE E BOOKSHELF, WE ORIENT THEM TO THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. >> SO THEY HAVE ACCESS TO PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING THAT'S ON THE E BOOK LIST. >> YES, JUST LIKE THE REST OF THE LIBRARY. >> MR. MORRIS, PAGE 178 IN THIS BOOK, DID YOU READ THE BOOK, SIR? . >> [INDISCERNIBLE]. >> NO WORRIES. THE REASON I ASK, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU BOUGHT THIS ONE PARTICULARLY OR NOT. >> [INDISCERNIBLE]. >> BUT THIS AND I NOTICE ALSO SALVAGE THE BONES THERE WERE SEVERAL REFERENCES MADE TO PAGE 13. THE MATERIAL YOU READ IS NOWHERE NEAR 178 IN MY COPY BECAUSE I READ
036IT COVER TO COVER. . >> [INDISCERNIBLE] COPY MAY BE SMALLER PRINT. >> WE'RE TALKING -- >> 170. I DON'T HAVE THAT. >> JUST PIQUED MY INTEREST, THAT'S ALL. BECAUSE THIS BOOK IS ABOUT LIVED EXPERIENCE AND THERE'S ACTUALLY A DIFFERENT SECTION THAT I WOULD LIKE TO READ FOR YOU REAL QUICK. THIS IS PAGE 220, BY THE WAY. WE DON'T RIDE. I'M TOO SCARED. SO WE LEAVE THE HORSES AND WALK INSTEAD. HE SHOWS ME WHAT'S GOT TO BE THE ENTIRE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA. WE WALK FOR HOURS AND HOURS I'VE NEVER WALKED SO MUCH IN MY LIFE. I'VE NEVER BEN ON THE INSIDE OF GRASS AND FIELDS AND AIR AND FILLED WITH SILL KEY STAR-SHAPED GOING BY. I NEVER STEPPED IN HORSE SHIT OR COW SHIT. I NEVER THOUGHT THEIR PILES WERE SO BIG ALTHOUGH IF YOU THINK
037ABOUT IT YOU'D KNOW IT WOULD HAVE TO BE. I NEVER KNEW PIGS WOULD BE AS TAME AS DOGS EVEN THOUGH I READ CHARLOTTE'S WEB WHEN I WAS SMALL AND SALUTATIONS WAS ONE OF THE FIRST WORDS ME AND MY MOTHER FOUND IN HER DICTIONARY. OR THAT THEIR NOSES WERE SOFTER THAN A BABY'S BUTT. I NEVER KNEW YOU THINK YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE IN THIS WORLD WHAT IT P SMELLS LIKE AND LOOKS LIKE AND LIVES IN YOUR HEART AND THEN IN LESS TIME THAN IT TAKES TO GET YOUR HAIR DONE YOU CAN LOOK UP AT A WHOLE DIFFERENT SKY AND REALIZE ALL THIS TIME YOU DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHO YOU WERE, MUCH LESS STOP TO WONDER. THE COMMON THEME IN THE BOOKS WE'RE SEEING IN REVIEW AND THAT IS LIVED EXPERIENCE IN TEENAGERS. I
038THINK YOU EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED IN YOUR REMARKS, SIR, THAT SEX AND SEXUAL CONTACT IS LIVED EXPERIENCE IN TEENAGERS. AND IT'S HARD TO GRIP ON THIS BECAUSE THERE AGAIN YOU MENTIONED THAT, YOU KNOW, DEENA -- >> DEBORAH, I NEED YOU TO SPEAK [INDISCERNIBLE]. >> THAT YOU WERE INNOCENT AND I'M VERY GLAD FOR THAT, SIR, MENTIONED THAT DEENA WAS INNOCENT AND SHE WAS OKAY. I WAS INNOCENT, SIR, AND I WAS NOT OKAY, NOT FOR YEARS, NOT UNTIL I ACTUALLY GOT TO COLLEGE AND TOOK ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY AND MATERNAL FETAL DEVELOPMENT AND REAL LIETSZD IT WAS NOT OKAY. IT TOOK A LONG TIME. SO THERE AGAIN, THE PRODUCT OF THESE LIVED EXPERIENCE BOOKS IS A CONVERSATION ABOUT THOSE EXPERIENCES AND REALIZING THAT THEY HAPPEN TO PEOPLE THIS AGE AND THAT THEY ARE NOT OKAY A LOT OF TIMES WHEN
039THEY HAPPEN LIKE THE 15-YEAR-OLD IN THE OTHER BOOK THAT WAS NOT OLD ENOUGH TO CONSENT AND WHETHER THE WORD WAS USED IN THE BOOK WAS RAPE AND IT OPENS THE CONVERSATION TO WHAT IS OKAY AND WHAT IS NOT OKAY. WOULD YOU WATCH THIS MOVIE WITH YOUR 14-YEAR-OLD OR READ IT OUT LOUD? SITTING ON THIS DAIS I DON'T HAVE THE LIBERTY TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON WHAT I WOULD DO WITH MY OWN CHILD, I HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS AND SAY, CAN I STOP THE PARENT WHO IS COMFORTABLE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION READING THIS WITH THEIR CHILD, WATCHING THOSE MOVIES? DO I HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO TELL THEM YOU MAY NOT DO THIS WITH YOUR CHILD? IT'S A HARD QUESTION. AND I RESPECT YOUR STATEMENT THAT YOU ARE NOT LOOKING TO HAVE THE BOOK BARN NEED BUT
040MORE A WARNING SYSTEM AND THAT'S A CONVERSATION I WOULD BE HAPPY TO PARTICIPATE IN, IF DR. OAKLEY DECIDES THAT'S THE WAY WE WANT TO GO. BUT THAT IS THE QUESTION THAT IS PUT IN FRONT OF US IS FOR THE PEOPLE WHOARE COMFORTABLE FOR THIS AND FOR TEENAGERS LIKE ME WHO WERE NOT OKAY AT THESE AGES, IS THIS SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK AT THEM AND SAY, NO. AND UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS THE QUESTION AS IT IS POSED TODAY. I THINK YOU KNOW THAT BUT RIGHT NOW WE CAN ONLY LOOK AT YES OR NO. WE CANNOT HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT CHANGING THE PROCESS. >> THANKS TO EVERYBODY. >> HAVE A GREAT DAY. >> THE SAME OR NOT. >> I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS BOOK RETAINED IN THE LIBRARY FOR THESE REASONS, THE BOOK
041HAS LITERARY MERIT AND EDUCATIONAL VALUE. THE BOOK IS APPROPRIATE FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND THE BOOK MEETS THE CRITERIA OUTLINED BY REGULAR CODE 300-R >> SECOND. >> I WANT TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION. >> OKAY. >> I UNDERSTAND THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW -- I DON'T THINK WE -- >> MOTION. >> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD IF WE APPROVE THAT THAT WE ALSO LOOK AT ADDING A SYSTEM TO IDENTIFY. THERE IS NOTHING, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, TO TELL ME WHAT DEPTH OF -- >> CAN YOU MAKE A CLEAR MOTION. >> A CLEAR MOTION I WANT A IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM THAT WILL LET PARENTS AND STUDENTS HAVE SOME IDENTIFY OF WHAT'S IN THE BOOK, THIS HAS EXPLICIT SEX OR TOPICS THAT MAY BE CHALLENGING, WHATEVER YOU WOULD LIKE BUT WE CAN AT LEAST LOOK AT IT. WE CAN APPROVE
042IT AT THE SAME TIME BUT AT LEAST PUT THE CAVEAT ON TOP. ALL I WANT IS THAT WE AT LEAST LOOK AT IT. >> WE CAN LOOK AT IT SPECIFICALLY WHAT ACTION YOU ARE -- >> A RATING SYSTEM IS WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR. >> WHO IS GOING TO LOOK AT IT. >> WE WOULD HAVE TO STORE IT WITH THE BOARD OR I WANT THE MOTION THAT SOMEONE, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO SAY IT, LOOKS AT A RATING SYSTEM SO THAT WHEN A BOOK HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ON IT TO IDENTIFY THE LEVEL OF MATERIAL IN IT THERE IS SOMETHING THAT SAYS THERE IS -- THIS IS X-RATED, WHATEVER SYSTEM YOU WANT TO MAKE. >> SO ONE OF MY CONCERNS, JUST FOR EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND, IS THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY DIFFICULT FOR A BOARD TO DO,
043TO CREATE THE STANDARDS JUST YOU AS THE GUILFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION. MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE TO DELEGATE IT IF THIS IS HOW THE BOARD WANTS TO PROCEED TO LOOK INTO THE ADMINISTRATION TO LOOK AT RATING SYSTEMS THAT ALREADY EXIST AND SOME INDEPENDENT BODY MAKES THESE DECISIONS BECAUSE HAVING YOUR LIBRARIANS GO THROUGH AND MAKE THOSE DETERMINATIONS IS I THINK PRETTY COMPLICATED AND UNWIELDY. >> WELL, I'D LIKE IT INVESTIGATED THEN, IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO SOMEHOW GIVE MORE INFORMATION TO STUDENTS AND PARENTS. BECAUSE -- >> IS THE MOTION TO DIRECT ADMINISTRATION TO INVESTIGATE RATING SYSTEMS. >> YEAH, GO THAT WAY AND THEN IT CAN BE MODIFIED. AT LEAST SOMETHING THAT WOULD TELL PARENTS, THERE IS NOTHING THAT WOULD TELL A PARENT. >> JUST TRYING TO GET A CLEAR MOTION, LINDA. >> I WANT SOME INVESTIGATION OF
044WHETHER THERE'S ANY WAY THAT WOULD MAKE REASONABLE ATTEMPT TO IDENTIFY THE CONTENT OF THIS BOOK. >> SO WE NEED A SECOND ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION. >> I'LL SECOND. >> SO A VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION. WE NEED TO DO ROLL CALL VOTE. WE'RE DOING A ROLL CALL VOTE BECAUSE THE MACHINE IS NOT ACTIVE TODAY. . >> [INDISCERNIBLE] YES. >> THE MOTION, IT DOESN'T INDICATE WHETHER YOU ARE RETAINING THE BOOK. >> SHE SAID, SHE SAID RETAIN THE BOOK IN THE LIBRARY BUT HAVE ADMINISTRATION INVESTIGATION RATING SYSTEM AND BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD. DEBORAH, HOW DO YOU VOTE? . >> YES. >> NO. >> DEENA . >> NO. >> YES. >> SO THAT IS 6-2, IT FAILS. DEBORAH VOTED YES, LINDA VOTED YES. >> 4 TO 2. >> SORRY. >> THE VOTE COUNTING IS ALWAYS THE
045WORST PART. >> I MOVE THE ORIGINAL MOTION. >> THE ORIGINAL MOTION STANDS WITH BETTY SECONDING. ROLL CALL VOTE, DEBORAH, YES. YES. DEENA, YES. YES. NO, EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT -- >> YES. >> 5-1. I GOT THAT ONE RIGHT. AND THEN SOMEONE WILL INFORM THE APPEAL, MR. MORRIS, OF THAT OUTCOME. >> MOVE TO ADJOURN. >> I JUST WANT TO SAY I THINK THERE'S A FORUM TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION BUT TACKING IT ON IS NOT RIGHT. MOTION TO ADJOURN, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE OR STAND. THANK YOU. [MEETING ADJOURNED