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Board member raises reading proficiency concerns and questions Hispanic Heritage Month artist choice
Summary
A board member and a community email raised concerns about reading proficiency and a Hispanic Heritage Month artist selection; district staff said volunteers have classroom challenges and that the music itself was not played for students, only the artist's name was announced.
Rebecca Carlson, a member of the Harlem Consolidated School District board, used the announcements/discussion portion of the Oct. 14 meeting to flag two issues: district reading proficiency and a Hispanic Heritage Month artist selection at Machesney Elementary.
Carlson urged greater volunteer involvement to support students' reading skills. Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction Dr. Michelle Erb responded by outlining both challenges and potential benefits of placing volunteers in classrooms, noting logistical and supervision considerations that schools must manage when integrating volunteers.
Separately, a written community comment from Katie Littlefield, submitted Oct. 13, 2025, raised concerns about the Hispanic Heritage Month selection. Carlson said she was concerned about lyrics associated with a selected artist; district staff clarified that the music itself had not been played for students and that only the artist’s name had been announced, according to the meeting minutes. No formal corrective action or disciplinary item was recorded in the minutes.
The board did not take further public action on either issue during the Oct. 14 meeting. Board members and administrators may follow up in future meetings or through staff channels; the district's next regular meeting is scheduled for Oct. 27, 2025.
