Instructional Materials Review Committee
2/3/2016 - 5:30pm
NCSD Board Room
4444 SE Lake Rd Milwaukie, OR 97222
Draft Minutes
● Meeting called to order at 5:35pm
● Introductions
o Committee Membership Handout Provided
o Present: Quintanilla, Ngai, Stewart, Lewis, Harvey, Vanden Berg, Layton, Douglas,
Wilson, Blythe, Pickles*, Shireman*, Callahan*
o Absent: Walsh (pre-arranged school event)
o Still confirming the participation of one parent/community member
o * = non-voting members
● Committee Charge
o Chair Callahan posted and reviewed the committee charge. Committee members asked
questions asked about the specifics of the committee’s charge. Administrative Rule
II/IIA-AR was quoted and part of section 6 were posted.
● Norms
o Chair Callahan shared a draft set of norms to guide this committee’s work. The
committee offered changes to the draft.
o The committee used a thumbs up/down/sideways consensus model to determine the
following norms:
▪ Assume positive intent.
▪ Seek to understand others' perspectives – consider the filters and lenses you are
looking through.
▪ Be honest and speak your truth.
▪ Every person’s input is valued. Allow each voice to be heard.
▪ Ask clarifying questions.
▪ Be objective
● Reconsideration of Instructional Materials request / What information do you need to complete
the committee’s charge?
o The committee reviewed the Instructional Materials reconsideration request and
generated questions about what information they would need to carry out the
committee’s charge.
o Questions raised included the following concepts, though the wording was not captured
precisely:
▪ Is there knowledge of how this book makes students feel? (the student of the
person who brought forward the concern or other students)
▪ What do students (current or past) feel about this book?
▪ Is it possible to encourage students to come forward to share their experiences?
▪ Does the person who brought forward the reconsideration request find anything
positive in this book?
▪ What caused a parent to find the courage to bring this issue forward? What
process did she go through to find the courage?
▪ This book has a history of being controversial and offensive. Other school
districts have had similar discussions. What have been decisions made in other
school districts?
▪ Why is it important to use this book to teach this objective? or standard?
▪ Why is this book part of American Culture? What is the history behind why this
book matters?
▪ What standards does this book address and what is its lexile?
▪ How do teachers create safe environments for books that are controversial?
▪ What grade and course is this taught in? Is it used in every one of our schools at
that grade level and for that course?
▪ How does teaching The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn align to our equity
work within our school district?
▪ How can our committee stay focused on our charge, which is specific?
▪ How can we speak openly and be real enough to have a discussion with an
informed decision?
o Multiple committee members expressed concern about the public nature of this
committee and requested that the parent who brought forward the request not have their
personal information shared publicly. Facilitator Shireman shared that the parent has
expressed a desire to speak with the committee and will be invited to do so at the next
meeting.
● Materials distribution
o The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was provided to committee members.
o Copies of the following policies were provided to committee members:
▪ GCCB/GDCB/IKAAA District Equity Policy
▪ II/IIA/IIA-AR(2) Instructional Resources/Instructional Materials
▪ INB/INB-AR Studying Controversial Issues
● Review of relevant policies
o Chair Callahan described each policy and explained that due to the shortness of time,
the policies should be reviewed by each committee member in more depth before the
next meeting.
● Establish procedure for interested parties to provide oral/written information
o Facilitator Shireman shared a draft of procedures for the committee to receive oral or
written information. Facilitator Shireman described that these are public meetings and
should conform to procedures somewhat like the way the school board is run. The
committee members’ role when receiving oral information is not to engage in debate
with anyone offering information, rather to hear the information they are bringing
forward.
o The committee offered changes to the draft of procedures initially shared.
o The committee used a thumbs up/down/sideways consensus model to determine the
following procedures:
▪ oral: anyone wishing to speak in person with the committee may sign up just
prior to the beginning of the meeting on 2/22/16. Time slots will be 3 minutes
long. A clipboard will be provided. This will be modeled like public comment
at board meetings.
▪ written: written information that anyone would like to share with the committee
can be sent to pickles@nclack.k12.or.us or dropped off at the NCSD District
Office. Information provided a week before the meeting will be shared in a
packet electronically with the committee a week before the meeting. Shawn
Pickle will make packets for any committee member who would like to come
and pick it up. Anything that is submitted after one week before the meeting
will be provided to the committee on the night of the 2/22/16 meeting.
▪ The committee will discuss whether to continue hearing oral information at the
2/29/16 meeting at the conclusion of the 2/22/16 meeting.
● Meeting ended at 8:02pm
Unofficial minutes. To be reviewed at 2/22/16 meeting