Supt. Bill Hampton related concerns that administrators and teachers had over implementing a proposed revision to the district’s policy regarding films used in classes.
The District 55 School Board discussed the policy during its second reading of a policy revision during its regular meeting Monday night.
Among those:
– Some administrators were concerned about the management of permission slips. Oak Heights Elementary Principal Bob Matuszak said that Oak Heights has parents check permission for students to view rated G, PG and PG-13 movies at the beginning of the year.
The board was open to the idea of continuing that process, and Supt. Hampton said that was a detail that could be worked out after the policy was adopted by the School Board.
– Some administrators felt that the district was defining film and video too closely, possibly excepting films made for educational purposes from being used.
– There was concern about the proposed policy language allowing “absolutely no nudity or sex” to be shown.
– The policy is needed because copyright laws prevent a “general showing” of commercial films to groups.
– Foster fifth- and sixth-grade teachers thought that certain PG-13 films should be allowed with parental and administrative permission. No specific movies were mentioned.
The impetus for the new policy came after portions of two R-rated movies were shown at Sweet Home High School. The clips, from Saving Private Ryan and Rosewood, were used in social studies classes to demonstrate the historic violence associated with war and racism.
A complaint from a parent drove the policy, which currently allows no R-rated films to be used, before the board for consideration. Staff members were operating under an interpretation of the current policy that allows edited films to be used.
Supt. Hampton said the original intent of the policy was to allow no R-rated movies in classes though, and the policy revision was proposed to allow the high school to use such films.
In 16 years, Supt. Hampton said he has received one complaint from a Sweet Home Junior High School parent and four, two about films and two about books, from Sweet Home High School parents.
Board member Bob Pascalar said he was more concerned about violence being shown in classrooms than nudity.
“Saving Private Ryan is quite different with the violence that’s from a historical perspective,” Board Member Scott Proctor said. That kind of violence is different from an action movie.
“Hopefully, we’re not showing Die Hard,” Board Member Barbara Snow said.
Snow cautioned the board as it considered the policy.
“The more nit-picking we get to here … we’re going to get to the point where we’re not going to allow anything,” Snow said. That could conceivably carry over to books used in the high school.
The board will hold its third reading of the proposed policy at its regular meeting on March 12.
Present at the meeting Monday night were Tim Crocker, Pascalar, Chairman Milt Moran, Snow, Proctor, Don Hopkins, Sam Shipp and Lee Babcock. Kevin Burger was absent.
In other business, the school board:
– Accepted the resignation of SHJH science teacher Amy Strand, effective March 13.
– Accepted reimbursement funds for the School District’s work site coordination of the Health Occupations Program at Lebanon Community Hospital for student travel in the amount of $1,350.
– Accepted a CIM Work Sample Scoring Grant from the Oregon Department of Education in the amount of $1,906 for training teachers in scoring work samples.
– Adopted planned course statements for SHJH and SHHS.
– Approved a resolution for services with the Linn-Benton-Lincoln Education Services District.
– Adopted new health curriculum and textbooks.
– Discussed the success of early release days for elementary teachers, the proposed 2001-02 calendar and high school scheduling.
– Heard a proposal to make personal finance management a requirement for graduation.
– Scheduled a work session for 7 p.m. Monday night to discuss the proposed bond.
– Following an executive session, chose not to renew temporary teachers in the district. Some may be hired back later. Extended contracts for teachers and administrators and renewed contracts with probationary teachers.