May 4

George will remain in our elementary school libraries. Students may check out the book with parent permission.

District Media Manger, Christie Boen, has drafted information to better explain the process for families giving permission for their student(s) to check out George from their school library, as well as a preview of next year’s OBOBs student participation practices.  Below is Christie’s information.  PLEASE BE SURE TO GET THIS INFORMATION TO YOUR MEDIA MANAGERS TODAY. Thank you.

Media Managers’ Information

I finally have news on George. The district has decided that K-5 will need permission to read George. What this means for you:

• All copies of George need to be barcoded and put in Destiny.
• All copies need to have this pop-up note in Destiny: “K-5 requires parent permission to read George”. Here’s how to create a note.
• Students that get parent permission must have it noted in Destiny under their patron notes.How to create a student note.
• Parent permission can be a phone call, email or note.
• George can be out on the shelves.
• It’s up to each library if they want to carry George.
• We have a parent permission letter for OBOB.

Below are the findings of the committee that reviewed the book as well as  implications for OBOB and additional info.

Committee Findings

The committee decided to require parental permission for students in grades K-3 to check out the book George in school libraries.

Following the committee’s decision, the three families appealed that decision to the Superintendent.

After reading the book, meeting with the petitioning families, the committee facilitator and others, Mikalson modified the committee’s decision to require parental permission for all elementary age students wishing to check the book out from district libraries.

While the appeal was focused, by policy, on the use of George in our libraries – superintendent Mikalson has applied the same decision to require parent permission for participation in all future OBOBs, starting next fall.

About OBOB

OBOB is a voluntary program, run by the Oregon Association of School Libraries, and participation is not required for any Bend-La Pine Schools student.

Students participating in OBOB are not required to read all of the books on the reading list – students can read one, or all, of the books suggested.

The district is moving forward with plans to provide the parent of every student who wishes to participate in the elementary level OBOB with a synopsis of each book and a permission form, prior to students being allowed to participate.

Partnering with Families

Bend-La Pine Schools believes in, and has a long history of, partnering with families.

It is our belief that seeking parent permission will both empower and involve parents in decision making around student education and learning options.

Bend-La Pine Schools encourages families to engage in and partner with their child as they navigate social media, digital media and books alike.

We encourage families to join in reading with their students whenever possible so they engage in discussion and prepare to answer questions that could arise.

Book Availability

The book George is currently available at Ensworth, Silver Rail, Three Rivers School, and Westside Village at Kingston schools.

Reading George

Mikalson said he read the book with an intentional lens of a 5-to-11-year-old child and not from an adult who’s seen words like ‘porn’, for example, before.

ACR’s-Kindergarten ACR’s were due on May 1. I am going to assume that you do not want to meet together and have a signing party, and that you would rather do this from your buildings. If I am wrong in my assumption, let me know and we’ll have a meeting. Remember that for kinder we usually approve these if they are submitted before the deadline and there is not a specific situation at your school that would keep you from approving. Call if you have any questions.