Board debates proposed policy to require board approval of instructional materials

The Catawba County Board of Education discussed proposed edits to Policy 3.611 that would require all instructional materials — including supplemental textbooks, library books, periodicals, software and technology resources — to be selected by local professional staff, approved by the superintendent or designee, and also approved by the board.

Board member Dr. Barnett and others warned the change could overload the board and politicize material selection. "I just think that's very dangerous," Dr. Barnett said, arguing that expecting the board to review every piece of curriculum and library material was unrealistic and risked injecting partisan pressure into instructional decisions.

Superintendent Dr. Stover and administrators said existing checks and balances (textbook task forces, media specialists, principal review) already govern material selection and that the administration would bring especially sensitive curricula to the board for inspection. "We want you all to have the ability to inspect it," Dr. Stover said, noting the district would notify the board about sensitive items before final approval.

Several board members asked for time to compare the language with model policies from the North Carolina School Boards Association and to review how other boards handle approval. One member moved to table further action and to review additional policy examples; the motion to table passed and no final policy change was adopted at the meeting.