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POLYTECH board holds first reading of revised LRC selection policy, affirms reconsideration procedures
Summary
At its Nov. 12 meeting, the POLYTECH School District Board conducted a first reading of changes to Board Policy 7100 to align selection and reconsideration procedures for Learning Resource Center materials with state guidance and national library standards; the board approved the revisions on first reading.
The POLYTECH School District Board of Education on Nov. 12 conducted a first reading of proposed revisions to Board Policy 7100, the district’s Learning Resource Center (LRC) Selection Policy, and approved the changes on first reading.
Dr. Kevin Dickerson presented the draft revisions, which explicitly endorse the American Library Association Bill of Rights and the American Association of School Librarians School Library Bill of Rights and delegate responsibility for daily selection decisions to the Library Media Specialist. The draft states selection criteria to ensure a balanced collection that supports curricular goals, reflects cultural diversity and presents differing viewpoints on controversial subjects.
The policy text lays out criteria for both selecting and removing materials — including outdated or inaccurate information, negative role stereotypes, poor condition, and lack of circulation — and requires that audiovisual materials be previewed before purchase. It also preserves materials in circulation while a reconsideration is reviewed.
The draft establishes a formal Materials Reconsideration Committee with named categories of membership (an administrator, the High School principal, a teacher representative from each academy, the Library Media Specialist, a student council representative, parents, and the district’s Director of Personnel and Student Supports). The committee is to evaluate challenged materials using secretary-recorded meetings and a secret-ballot vote; its written decision is forwarded to the Superintendent within a 15-working-day window. The policy provides appeal steps to the Superintendent and Board and notes a final appeal may be filed with the State of Delaware’s School Library Review Committee.
Board member Deanna Rigby moved to approve the proposed changes on first reading; Cynthia Brown seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The board did not remove any materials during the meeting; approval was for the policy text on first reading only.
The revised policy text as presented also includes a Materials Reconsideration Form and specifies that only current students, parents/legal guardians of enrolled students, or school personnel may file a formal challenge. The draft requires the challenged material remain available to students and staff during review and allows the committee to consult outside expertise if needed.
Next steps: the policy will return for subsequent readings or final adoption per the district’s policy-adoption schedule. The board’s action on Nov. 12 represented a first-reading approval rather than final adoption.
