Scott Swanson
The School Board on Monday evening, Feb. 3, appointed nine people to a Reconsideration of Instructional Materials Committee to evaluate “The True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,” a book being read by eighth-graders at Sweet Home Junior High.
The book has prompted protests from parents who are concerned about its contents (see related story).
Some 75 parents, teachers and other community members crowded the public seating area of the board room, spilling out into the hallway and standing along the walls.
Several board members said Monday they had not had an opportunity to read “Diary.”
Jenny Daniels asked how far students had progressed through the book, and teachers Brian Gold and Chelsea Gagner, who were seated in the audience, said they were on “about” page 150 and 130 respectively out of 219 pages. Under questioning from Daniels, Gold said they were past most of the “controversial” parts, as Daniels put it.
“I certainly want to look at it, but I just wonder if taking it out where it’s being used now would be a disadvantage to them when they’re that far along,” Daniels said.
During an hour-long meeting, board members voted 5-3 against a motion by Trustee Chanz Keeney to discontinue use of the book in classrooms until the committee members or board can reach a final decision whether or not to remove all or part of the book from classroom use.
They then turned their attention to appointing the Reconsideration Committee.
Board President Jason Redick repeatedly declined to take testimony from the audience, telling them that the opportunity for that will come when the committee meets, possibly Tuesday or Wednesday, Feb. 4 or 5.
“That will be reserved for later on,” he said in response to audience members’ efforts to speak.
“We can’t sit here and discuss the merits of the book in this setting. There’s a policy in place and the policy should be followed.
“The process is in place to be fair to both sides in this situation and I think we need to follow the process.”
Supt. Don Schrader said he’s tentatively scheduled that initial meeting for 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, depending on the availability of the committee members.
Schrader said that district policy requires the Reconsideration Committee to be composed of nine members, five community members appointed by the board; one teacher, one school librarian or media specialist, one administrative staff member – all appointed by the superintendent; and a student selected by the high school Student Council. It must be chaired by someone who is not a district employee.
Redick said the goal was to appoint “impartial” or “neutral” people, who didn’t already have their minds made up about the book.
Appointed to Reconsideration Committee as community members were: former board member Diane Gerson, a retired principal; Craig Martin, city manager of Sweet Home and a longtime aquatics coach; Rob Younger, a retired Sweet Home High School science teacher and longtime football head coach; community resident Roseanne James; and Don Knight, a longtime local youth sports coach and youth leader who is currently a youth pastor.
District employees appointed by Schrader are: Terry Augustadt, a former school counselor who is now principal at Hawthorne Elementary School; high school language arts teacher Pam Duman; and librarian/media specialist Carol Donnelly. The student representative will be India Porter, a junior at the high school.