Lakeland board to add Age Appropriate Materials Act compliance language to instructional materials policy

The Lakeland School System board on Thursday agreed to add language to its instructional materials policy directing the superintendent or designee to develop and oversee procedures to ensure compliance with the Age Appropriate Materials Act (Feb. 2022), and to place the edited policy on next week’s consent agenda.

Board members discussed proposed edits to Policy 4.400, Instructional Materials, after Vice Chair Jeremy Burnett requested clarification that classroom materials meet the intent of the Age Appropriate Materials Act. Superintendent Dr. Horrell said the change would “highlight” requirements that already exist elsewhere in the district policy manual.

The board debated whether the new sentence should require the superintendent specifically or the superintendent or designee. A board member asked whether the change had been vetted by the Tennessee School Boards Association or legal counsel. Horrell responded that the reference would be cited and that TSBA handles such citations for the district.

After clarifying language to read that the “superintendent or designee shall develop and oversee procedures and controls to ensure compliance with this legislation,” members agreed to move the item to the consent agenda for the regular business meeting. Board members were told they may pull the item next week if they wish.

The board did not take a final vote on the policy at the work session; the action was to place the revised policy on next week’s consent agenda with the added citation to the Age Appropriate Materials Act.