Superintendent outlines new guest-speaker vetting protocol after recent controversy; committee debates oversight role

Superintendent Beth (full name not provided in transcript) presented a draft protocol on Oct. 8 that formalizes how the district will vet and approve outside guest speakers invited into schools.

The protocol requires a speaker-request form completed by a staff member or administrator that documents purpose, alignment to curriculum, audience, logistics and references; an initial proposer screening; and review by a small vetting committee that would include a building administrator, the proposing teacher, a student representative where age-appropriate and optionally a community liaison. Final approval would rest with the superintendent or an assistant superintendent, and principals would notify parents in the event of an approved visit.

The superintendent said the policy cross-checks speaker material against district nondiscrimination language and policy IJOB, which states a speaker must contribute to the district’s educational goals and be free of discrimination, bias or proselytizing. The vetting process includes review of websites, social media and news coverage, and uses three possible recommendations: approve, approve with conditions, or decline. Emergency or last-minute requests would require at minimum a building administrator and superintendent sign-off and an expedited screening.

Several school-committee members asked for changes. Member Tim asked why a school-committee member was not included on the vetting committee; other members pushed back, saying day-to-day administration is the superintendent’s responsibility and that the committee should set policy at high level rather than act operationally. One committee member asked whether guests who had been vetted previously should be re-vetted each time; a committee member replied that people’s views can change and the policy should require periodic vetting for repeat speakers. Another member asked whether alternative activities would be provided for students whose parents object to a speaker; the superintendent said the district can provide alternate options when parents request them, and that no parents had raised objections for the two authors already scheduled the following day.

Committee members pressed for a clear cutoff for “last minute” expedited requests; the superintendent indicated the expectation that an expedited review could be pulled together within about a week but emphasized that truly last-minute approvals would be rare. A board member asked whether outside proposers (for example the Nantucket Book Festival) would have a school advocate or administrator sponsor; the superintendent said yes.

Board members said they expect to be informed in advance of speakers and expressed interest in a transparent record the district will keep of vetting reports for repeat speakers. The committee did not amend the protocol during the meeting; the superintendent said the district has already begun piloting the protocol with two scheduled authors.