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Richardson ISD committee recommends May procurement list after staff details review process
Summary
The Richardson ISD Reconsideration Committee voted to recommend board approval of the district's May procurement list after staff described the multi-step selection process, the requirement for professional reviews, parental opt-out options, and the board timeline for final approval.
At a Richardson ISD Reconsideration Committee meeting, the Chair moved and the committee voted to recommend board approval of the district's May procurement list after a staff member walked members through the district's selection and review process.
Staff described how library staff compile candidate titles and screen them under Richardson ISD collection guidelines and legal requirements. "All of our books must have at least two positive professional reviews," the staff member said, citing professional outlets such as School Library Journal and Hornbook. She added that if a title lacks two professional reviews — a situation more common for nonfiction, Spanish-language works or manga — staff perform additional checks, including publisher reputation and author background.
The staff member said ISBN checks are performed in compliance with SB 13: if an ISBN is already in the district system it can be purchased immediately; otherwise it is added to the procurement list for committee recommendation. She said the list is not a pledge to buy every title at once — "it doesn't mean that we're going to go ahead and purchase like all 3,000 titles at once" — but rather a catalog of items library staff would like to acquire over time.
A committee member asked whether parents still have options once titles are adopted. The staff member said parents can opt their child out of any title, can view their school catalog online to see available titles, and may pursue the district's reconsideration or challenge process if they have concerns.
After discussion, the Chair called for a vote to forward the May procurement list to the board; members approved the recommendation by voice vote. The staff member said the list has been posted on the district website and in ISD community news for the required 30-day public comment period, and that she will forward any comments to the board for consideration. The board is set to consider the list at its June meeting for final approval.
The committee also noted that staff are working on bylaws to clarify membership terms and processes; those bylaws will be circulated for review prior to the next meeting.
