Board approves library book orders; public commenter praises transparency

The Indian River County School Board approved the consent agenda, including school media center book orders, and the vote passed 5-0. Nut graf: A member of the public who reviewed the book lists told the board she found the process transparent and complimented staff and the SAC (School Advisory Council) review; she asked about ordering timelines for middle- and high-school collections. Jennifer Pippen, who identified herself as chairman of Moms for Liberty in Indian River County, told the board she reviewed the media center orders, compared them to previously removed lists from other districts, and said many of the books on the elementary lists were strong choices that returned emphasis to basics. She thanked the district for using SAC review and for making the book lists available for community review. Pippen asked when middle- and high-school book orders would be placed, noting she had noticed more elementary orders in recent approvals and only one middle-school order on the current set. The board took no additional action beyond approving the consent agenda as amended; the chair confirmed the amended item had been discussed earlier in the workshop. Ending: The consent agenda, including the media center book orders, passed 5-0; the commenter’s request about middle- and high-school ordering timelines was recorded as a public question for staff follow-up.