[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6381440,"mediaKeyId","2128359-3e8212088afec285420316fcd1925f09","parentId",2128359,"title","Residents urge Kanawha County Schools to 'open the doors,' raise concerns about library books and request more community outreach","audioSeconds",1187,"startMs",807000,"endMs",1994000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2128359-3e8212088afec285420316fcd1925f09&start=807&end=1994","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2128359-3e8212088afec285420316fcd1925f09/thumbnail_807000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6381440/West-Virginia/Residents-urge-Kanawha-County-Schools-to-open-the-doors-raise-concerns-about-library-books-and-request-more-community-outreach","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6381440-de25ecdf8c41d51bb71d8071b23dfd60/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205110&Signature=Cmxtacn9TFGg9bWh~eC~i6-~bhZscKyz8rA1PUHeGGqkKs-j3rsTxGhN8pTAvLwHp~AIa3-MgSbEp6pCZEOIL1HHEqvJVfosJet-Fcuv9XuwqCJjbhumavGtZjXb-4njEcY8UWDlrtip7i4xt6ooq3Ayz1433VlAToAhkj23~SZZt6VxoUaBGgU8aVXbV6x3Mbuv0Uy0c0Xy13JmiXe22o3Avxgj9y9gqzEMX4gCx76WIeeM8FnfiyPgMSs65fq9oW8BISjNBuJq-dE9HvDUsandrPRWdPMZ4jqkCNl70HaDyRAAqzvcxfq-rh8d4HKdFLrvAwmbCl5PhlOMIyPezA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-01-16T22:34:46Z","article","Several residents addressed the Kanawha County Board of Education during the Jan. 16 public-delegation period, urging more public outreach and raising repeated concerns that school library materials include content they described as obscene. Speakers asked the board to make district goals and materials more transparent and to provide forums for community discussion.

Kathy Burgess opened the remarks with a call to “open the doors,” urging the district to run an active public-relations program, hold community forums and regular presentations by board members and district leaders, and use multimedia to counter misinformation and explain district goals. “We must open the doors, not literally, but through a strong emphasis on public relations,” Burgess said, calling for question-and-answer sessions to build trust between schools and families.

Multiple callers raised objections to library and instructional materials they consider inappropriate. Reverend Philip Dunn said the content in some books is “damaging” and described it as “obscene pornographic filth” in remarks to the board. Dennis Westover referenced state law sections in the course of describing his concerns and said he expects impending legislative changes may require renewed local discussion about what materials are allowed. Westover said his group intends to remain engaged in such discussions.

Betty Jarvis told the board she had prepared documents describing concerns but said an attorney had requested she not speak publicly about a particular matter because an investigation is pending; she provided the documents to board staff but declined to discuss details. The transcript records that she filed an ethics complaint but that an attorney advised her not to discuss specifics at the meeting.

When asked by a member of the public who should be contacted with a complaint about a book or other school material, a district official stated that parents and community members should speak to the school principal. The official also said the district has a policy that allows alternative assignments when a student objects to an assigned book, and added that staff reviewed lists of allegedly obscene books provided to the district and found those titles were not in the schools named in the materials under review.

Board members agreed to circulate meeting dates for the Local School Improvement Committee (LSIC) spring meetings and to try to provide dates to schools and the public. Several speakers said they plan continued engagement with the board and the forthcoming legislative session.

Ending

Public delegations continued after the formal Q&A period; no formal board action on library materials or banning requests was recorded at the Jan. 16 meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Kanawha County Schools Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","At the Jan. 16 Kanawha County Board of Education meeting, residents urged the district to increase public outreach and raised objections to school library materials they described as obscene.","taxTitle","KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS, School Districts, West Virginia","taxId",13057,"location","West Virginia","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6381445,"Kanawha County Board of Education approves revised personnel agenda, consent items and Head Start continuation grant",253,485000,738000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2128359-3e8212088afec285420316fcd1925f09&start=485&end=738","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2128359-3e8212088afec285420316fcd1925f09/thumbnail_485000.jpg","/articles/6381445/West-Virginia/Kanawha-County-Board-of-Education-approves-revised-personnel-agenda-consent-items-and-Head-Start-continuation-grant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6381445-88c3aa62cc8557893c815e1723894334/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205110&Signature=B9qkCXy51nFE56dJq-Mrsfy5Ydufdh4kAORg6yjpAR9Rw8uLcgwOmqhGKCb1pksVRTsONr2pwcKV8FbK91e6NhOpo4z6DqpE2ZyT~nvgueDcQwWJYk3EfUru91xmlP6fBufjs5RNTWc70WtZJvRPYVtFnjCZr7lkHbZ97nwEH1szn1oeCZXHt3-pAlwWNG91MXKn0BwdyZpYR2tWPHpNYgeuAtRi-Mc2HvL9iwJ~hg2pl4LqpDH6AHBnyZqPk4lUD7rqjv0FT27IexDTbgqY47KYmHBPiR7k9ji5R~puj1x2lhwV2hOUKPSzXBMWN4jqncYWgJSYdmkbAgiPFO-6Uw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Kanawha County Board of Education on Jan. 16 approved a revised personnel agenda, a bundle of consent items that included approval of bills and budget transfers, and a Head Start Preschool continuation grant for 2025–26, voting 5-0 on each item.

The approvals were taken early in the meeting after routine reports from finance and legal staff. The board approved the revised personnel agenda as listed in enclosure 92 following a motion recorded in the minutes and a roll call that resulted in a 5-0 vote.

Board members then approved consent items listed in enclosure 93–95, described in the meeting as: payment of bills for December 2024, budget supplements and transfers, and out-of-state travel requests. The meeting transcript includes a numeric string tied to enclosure 93 that appears corrupted in the record; the board approved the consent package by a recorded vote of 5-0.

In new business, the board voted to approve the Kanawha County Schools Head Start Preschool continuation grant for 2025–26 (enclosure 96). Board discussion noted the approval is to continue the existing Head Start program for the next year. Dr. Williams reported that a vacant room at Pinch would create additional capacity and said space — not funding — was the primary constraint in several schools; he said St. Albans Central and Anne Bailey currently had no room but the district will place classes where space becomes available. The Head Start motion carried 5-0.

Votes at a glance

- Revised personnel agenda (enclosure 92): moved and seconded; recorded outcome 5-0 (approved).
- Consent items A–C (enclosures 93–95: payment of bills, budget supplements/transfers, out-of-state travel): moved and seconded; recorded outcome 5-0 (approved). The transcript lists amounts in enclosure 93 but the numeric text is unclear in the record.
- Head Start Preschool continuation grant (enclosure 96): motion to approve continuation of the Head Start program for 2025–26; recorded outcome 5-0 (approved).

Board members present recorded their votes on the personnel and consent motions as “Aye” for all five seated members; the minutes record the motion totals as 5 to 0. No amendments to the motions were recorded. The meeting calendar was also set: the board's next regular meeting was announced for Jan. 30 at 8 a.m., with a special session on Feb. 3, 2025 at 8 a.m.

Ending

The meeting continued with public delegations after the votes. No additional formal actions on personnel, the consent package, or the Head Start grant were recorded during the remainder of the session.","At its Jan. 16 regular meeting the Kanawha County Board of Education approved a revised personnel agenda, a package of consent items including payment of bills and budget transfers, and the Head Start Preschool continuation grant; all three motions passed by recorded votes of 5-0.","actionData","errors"]

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Residents urge Kanawha County Schools to 'open the doors,' raise concerns about library books and request more community outreach

Kanawha County Board of Education approves revised personnel agenda, consent items and Head Start continuation grant