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Board upholds committee decision to retain 'Speak' with restriction
Summary
After a patron appeal, the CAMDENTON R-III Board voted to uphold the committee’s recommendation to retain the novel Speak in the middle-school collection with restrictions (available to grades 7–8; 6th grade access by parental permission or in a restricted section).
The CAMDENTON R-III Board of Education upheld a committee decision to keep the novel Speak in the middle-school library collection but with restrictions, the board decided after an appeal from a patron.
District staff described the reconsideration process under the district procedure (KOBAP 1): a committee reviewed the challenged title and recommended retention with restriction, allowing access for 7th and 8th graders and for 6th graders only with parental permission or in a designated restricted section. Speaker 2 summarized the appeal and process before public commenters and board members discussed age-appropriateness and the committee's rationale.
A community member (Speaker 10) described how the novel helped peers by prompting difficult but necessary conversations; other board members voiced concern about certain content but supported the committee's careful review. Speaker 11 moved to uphold the committee decision; the motion carried on a roll-call vote.
Why it matters: The decision applies a formal reconsideration process and leaves the book available as a resource for older middle-school students while limiting unsupervised access by younger students. Staff said they would confirm the practical approach (how the book will be shelved/monitored) before school begins.
The board’s vote concluded the appeal; staff will implement the restricted access policy and share the monitoring approach with parents and building administrators.
