HIT:Selction Policy Part 2

[mary ann harlan <persei@earthlink.net>]

#3
Instructional Materials Selection and Request for Reconsideration
Policies

SELECTION POLICY

1.  Materials shall be selected by the:

                        *IMC Director/Librarian in consultation with

                                *Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum
and Instruction Department

                                *Director of Special Schools and
Services

                                *Director of Health Services


        Final decisions shall be in accordance with the formally adopted
policy and with the approval of the County Board of Education.  Gifts of
materials will be accepted only if they meet the same criteria set forth
by
this statement for purchased materials.  Siskiyou County Schools
instructional materials shall be used only by the students and faculty
of
contracting schools.

2.  Reputable, unbiased, professionally prepared selection aids shall be
consulted as selection guides.

3.  The collection shall be developed systematically so that it is well
balanced and well rounded in coverage of subjects, types of materials,
and
variety of content.  The collection shall be continuously re-evaluated
in
relation to changing curriculum content, new instructional methods, and
current needs of teachers and students.  Appropriate materials shall be
obtained for these new developments.  The process of re-evaluation shall
include the replacement of out-moded materials with those that are
up-to-date, the discarding of materials no longer useful, and the
replacement of materials in poor repair.

    Procedures for discarding books are set forth in Appendix A.  For
non-print materials, the same considerations of physical condition
and/or
educational value will be made, and the same procedure for disposal used
as
provided for in Appendix A.

4.  Materials shall implement, enrich and support the educational
programs
of contracting schools, the County Courses of Study, and the California
State Frameworks.

5.  In order that appropriate service may be provided for teachers and
students, materials are to be purchased throughout the year as needed,
and
their acquisition is not to be limited to annual or semi-annual orders.

6.  Factual materials on sex education, substance abuse, and other
controversial issues on the maturity levels of the students shall be
included in the instructional materials collections, provided they meet
the
other criteria of this statement and have the approval of the County
Board
of Education.

7.  The Siskiyou County Board of Education adopts the American Library
Association's (A.L.A.) School Library Bill of Rights,  the A.L.A.
Library
Bill of Rights, the A.L.A. Freedom to Read, Policies on Intellectual
Freedom in Libraries (Calif. Assn. of School Librarians), and the
Student's
Right to Read (National Council of Teachers of English).


REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION POLICY

1.  Citizen or teacher criticisms of instructional materials shall be
submitted in writing to the County Superintendent of Schools, must be
signed, and must include specific information as to author, title,
publisher and definite citation of objection.  The complainant shall use
the form provided by the County Superintendent of Schools.  The
Superintendent shall inform the County Board of Education of the
complaint
within 30 days of receipt of said complaint.

2. Within10 days of informing the County Board of Education the
Superintendent shall appoint a "Review Committee" composed of the
following
personnel:  Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction,
County
Schools Librarian, one Educational Consultant whose subject expertise is
appropriate to the material in question, members of the community (as
deemed appropriate by the Superintendent, not to exceed 3), a County
Board
of Education  member (to be appointed by the President of the Board),
and
no more than 2 School District representatives.

3. Within 30 days the committee shall convene.  The committee shall
select
a chairperson and establish procedures for reviewing the questioned
material.  The committee shall be charged with the responsibility of
arriving at a recommendation within 30 days, with the option of 1 (one)
30
day extension for the purposes of further research.

4.  The committee shall send its written findings and recommendations to
the County Board of Education.  After considering the recommendation of
the
Review Committee, the County Board of Education shall make the final
decision as to whether or not the material is to be retained in the
collection, and shall direct the County Superintendent to notify, in
writing, the individual members of the Review Committee, the school
district utilizing  the materials, and the complainant of the Board's
final
decision.

5.  Only the decision of the County Board of Education shall authorize
removal of a book or material from the collection, and the decision of
the
Board is final.

6.  Challenged materials shall not be withdrawn from the collection
pending
the recommendation of the Review Committee and the decision of the
County
Board of Education.



Here's the "Request for Re-consideration" form that goes with our
Selection
Policy:

SiskiyouCounty Superintendent of Schools Office

Request for Reconsideration of Materials

To:  County Superintendent of Schools

Date: ____________________________

Please complete all items listed below:

1.  Request initiated by: ___________________________________________

      (Address) ___________________________________________________

      (phone) ____________________________________________________

2.  Title of challenged item: ________________________________________
       __________________________________________________________

3.  Type of Material (e.g. book, film, video, kit, etc.)
______________________

4.   Author, producer, or publisher: __________________________________
     ___________________________________________________________

5.  Copyright or release date: ______________________________________


6.  Date complainant reviewed material in its entirety:
___________________

7.  Complaint represents   _____ self or        _____ organization

        (if organization) Name of organization represented by this
                                    complaint:
            ____________________________________
        _______________________________________________________
        Address and phone number:  ________________________________
        _______________________________________________________

8.  Describe and locate objectionable material(e.g. page numbers in a
book,
frame numbers on a filmstrip, scene(s) in a film/video)
     __________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

9.  Why does complainant believe material is inappropriate for use?

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
     __________________________________________________________

10.  What does complainant believe might result from continued use
         of this material? ____________________________________________
     __________________________________________________________
     __________________________________________________________
     __________________________________________________________
     __________________________________________________________
     __________________________________________________________

11.  Are you aware of the judgment of this material by literary critics?
______
        If so, what is that judgment?
___________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

12.  What do you suggest be done with this material?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

13.  In its place, what material of equal or superior quality would you
         recommend that would convey as valuable a picture and per-
         spective of the subject covered?
      _________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
      _________________________________________________________
      _________________________________________________________
      _________________________________________________________
      _________________________________________________________

(Note:  please use additional sheets if further space is needed for
responses)

Date: ___________  Signature: __________________________________

Please PRINT your name, address and phone number below:

    _________________________________________________________
    _________________________________________________________
    _________________________________________________________
    _________________________________________________________

Mary Ann Harlan
persei@earthlink.net
Golden West Middle
2651 De Ronde Drive
Fairfield CA 94533

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