What does the School Board have to say about the books….

On Friday, we met met with Mary Foreman from the School Board. I previously had asked Mary to read a book from a list I gave her. Curious to see if she accomplished the task or not…SHE DID! Yea!

Mary pointed out that she read, “The Bluest Eyes” on Mothers Day….quite a gift! The irony of having images of a child being abused, tortured, and psychologically damaged on a day of celebrating giving “Birth” to the one most previous thing in your life. I thought that was pretty profound and I hope it hit home even more for Mary. She did indicate when her son called her and asked what the was doing she replied, “Reading Porn!”

Great we’ve got Mary’s Attention!! 

Now let’s get to Work!!!

Mary and the board are well aware of this issue and what’s going on in other districts and school Boards and they do not want these books in the schools NOR do they want to deal with irate parents at board meetings. They have obviously dropped the ball on getting ahead of this issue that they were well aware of but no reason to worry about spilled milk at this point. 

Mary has agreed to:

• Speak with Superintendent to do a press release or some kind of statement stating that they are aware, don’t condone, and are working on rectifying the situation.
• Getting Ms. Saunders to write a policy to get the books pulled from the media centers at each school that are under the “ Reconsider” process until a determination is reached. ·
• Any form filled on any book Mary will personally follow through and monitor the process and follow up with us on EACH book. 

          WIN! WIN! WIN!

Our Job was to:

• To send her lists of book
• Fill out forms for each book
• She has asked that parents do not show up at Board Meetings to read the books. This is two fold. They are aware and are willing to do something and work with us. They also know what’s going on in other school boards (and frankly are against the other school board members and how over the top they are treating the parents). There will be a search for a new superintendent and Mary hopes Manatee County will not be labeled like other districts and be able to get good candidates wanting to apply for Manatee County Superintendant. I was very FIRM on the fact that they dropped the ball addressing this issue to the Public.  I / We can Only do so much. If they don’t come out to the Parents ASAP and tell them they are working on removing the books they are going to have the same chaos at their meetings as other the counties. So, let’s see how hard, fast or if they do anything to get ahead of it. They have been ADVISED.

         I Met with the Director of Administration, Kevin Chapman ,and Executive Director of Curriculum, Laurie Breslin.

• They are aware of the inappropriate books in ALL Media Centers at each school.
• They DO NOT want these books in the schools.
• Are willing to take ANY book off the shelf that has questionable content of ANY kind while in the Review process.
• Was willing to REMOVE the form “Previously” needed to fill out as a book to be “Reconsidered.”
• All that is needed is to bring them the title of any book anyone deems as unsuitable for children of ANY age – NO FORM IS NEEDED!
• The current form WILL BE revised
• New processes for book review, criteria, committees, AND purchasing, will be implemented moving forward. WIN WIN WIN!!!