Board places proposed high‑school, middle‑school novel lists on 30‑day display amid requests for review

The Plainfield SD 202 curriculum committee voted to place proposed additions to the high‑school and middle‑school novel lists on 30‑day display after a discussion in which several board members asked for further review of titles already on approved lists.

Dr. Morris presented two proposed additions for the high‑school novelist list — When Breath Becomes Air (a memoir) and The Mountain Sing (offered as a choice option) — and said both had been reviewed by district committees and presenters saw no content concerns for their proposed uses. “We’ve gone through pretty extensive processes within our number of committees ... to look at these books and read them,” Dr. Morris said.

Several board members urged that two existing titles on the district list, including Between the World and Me, be reviewed by the curriculum committee following a parent complaint. One board member said he has discussed the concern with colleagues and requested the curriculum committee revisit those titles and report back. Committee members said the removal process requires committee review (not an immediate board removal) and agreed to take the request back to the curriculum committee.

Middle‑school staff explained that their list consists of choice novels that media specialists have read and that students may select; middle‑school materials are not required core texts. The committee said the middle‑school list will continue to be reviewed annually to address concerns about age‑appropriate content.

What the committee approved: staff placed the high‑school additions and the middle‑school choice list on 30‑day display so the community has time to review and respond; the curriculum committee will consider requests to reexamine titles already on the approved lists and return recommendations to the board.