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Methuen School Committee tables proposed classroom-library reconsideration procedure after heated debate
Summary
After more than an hour of debate and two failed amendments, the Methuen School Committee voted to table a proposed procedure for reconsidering classroom library and media center materials and referred the matter to the policy subcommittee for further work, following counsel advice about potential conflicts with an existing media-selection policy.
The Methuen School Committee on March 9 voted to table consideration of a proposed procedure for reconsidering classroom library and media center materials and referred the draft to the policy subcommittee for further review.
Member Donovan introduced the draft procedure, which she described as a formal process for reviewing challenges to books that are in classroom libraries or media centers. "This is strictly about books in our media center and our classroom libraries," Donovan said, urging a review process that would "ensure that materials just can't be removed simply because people disagree with the ideas," and that the review include teachers, librarians, parents and students.
The proposal drew extended debate over two central items: who may bring a challenge and whether a retained title should be barred from reconsideration for a fixed period. On a roll-call vote the committee…
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