Board discusses draft IJ to consolidate instructional and library material rules; CASB guidance and legal questions raised

Board members held an extended work-session discussion on Oct. 15 about a draft policy (IJ) intended to consolidate several existing instructional- and library-related policies and to clarify how the district selects, adopts and responds to challenges about instructional materials and library resources.

What the draft would do Director Jason Jorgensen (introduced the item) said the proposal is intended to simplify an array of overlapping policies into one document so families and administrators have a single point of reference. "One clear policy for families. Also, one clear policy for our admin team," he said, explaining the goal of consolidating about 11 former I-series items into a single IJ and associated regulation.

Legal and process questions raised Board members and staff repeatedly referenced a new state requirement…