I. Review or Reevaluation
- Any resident or employee of the school district may ask that a specific title or titles in the instructional materials used in the district’s educational program be reviewed or reexamined. (The term “review” used in this section will refer to reexamination or reevaluation of material based on a “request for review.” It should not be confused with the normal reviewing process as a part of selection.) This will not be considered to reflect adversely on the qualifications of the person or persons who made the selection.
1. The school official or staff member receiving a request for review or reexamination regarding instructional materials will try to resolve
the issue informally. The materials will remain in use unless removed through the formal procedure herein provided.
2. The school official or staff member initially receiving a request for review will explain to the requester the school district’s selection
procedure, criteria, and qualifications of those persons selecting the material. These people will also explain the place this material
occupies in the educational program, its intended educational usefulness, and additional information regarding its usefulness.
3. In the event that the person asking for the review is not satisfied with the initial explanation, the person raising the question should be referred to the library media specialist and/or principal. If, after this discussion, the person wishes to file a formal request for review, the school official should assist in filling out a “Request for Review” form.
4. The school official or staff member receiving the “Request for Review” form should notify the principal of the appropriate attendance center about the inquiry in writing by the end of the following school day. The written notification should indicate name, material and resolution if any. The principal or other designated person will file a report for the Review Committee’s records.
b. Request for Review
1. Each attendance center and the school district’s central office will keep on hand and make available “Request for Review” forms. All
formal requests for review must be made on this form.
2. Within five days after receiving the form, the superintendent of designee will file the request with the standing Review
Committee.
c. Review committee
1. The Review Committee will be made up of thirteen members.
a. Three teachers – one middle school, one senior high and one elementary, designated annually by the superintendent.
b. School media specialists will be named to the committee. The media specialist responsible for the attendance center where the item being reexamined originated will not serve on the committee for that review.
c. One member of the central administrative staff designated annually by the superintendent.
d. Four members from the community appointed annually by Fairfield Community School Board action.
e. One high school student and one middle school student selected annually. The middle school student will be selected by the principal. Recommendations for the senior high student will come from the principal with selection by the student council.
f. One school board member appointed annually by school board action.
2. The chairperson and secretary will be selected by the members of the committee. The chairperson will not be an employee or officer of the district. The secretary will be an employee or officer of the district.
3. The committee will receive the Materials Selection Policy and all “Request for Review” forms from the superintendent or person designated by the superintendent.
d. Review Process
1. The first meeting will consist of the Review Committee. The procedure following receipt of the “Request for Review” is as follows:
a. Distribute copies of the written “Request for Review” form.
b. Distribute reputable, professionally prepared reviews of the material when available.
c. Distribute copies of the material if available.
2. Before the next meeting committee members will read and examine completely the materials being reviewed. Opinions will be based on the material as a whole and not on passages pulled out of context. The secretary will inform the press of the date of the next meeting.
3. At a subsequent meeting, interested persons, including the person requesting the review, may have the opportunity to share their views. The committee may request individuals with special knowledge to present information to the committee.
4. The person requesting the review will be kept informed by the secretary concerning the status of the review through the committee process. All known interested parties will be given appropriate notice of committee meetings.
5. At the second or subsequent meeting, as desired, the committee will make its recommendation in open session. The committee’s final recommendation will be by majority vote
a. to take no action;
b. to remove all or part of the material from the total school environment;
c. to allow student to use alternate titles, approved by school personnel involved; or
d. to limit the educational use of the material.
The sole criteria for the final recommendation is the appropriateness of the material for its intended educational use.
6. The written recommendation and its justification will be forwarded to the superintendent for appropriate action and to the person initiating the request and to the appropriate attendance centers.
7. A recommendation of the committee to remove or limit use of the material will not be interpreted as a judgment of irresponsibility on the part of the professionals involved in the original selection or use of the material.
8. Committee members directly associated with the selection, use, or request for review of materials will be excused from the committee during the deliberation on such materials. The superintendent may appoint a temporary replacement for the excused committee member, but such replacement will be of the same general qualifications of a member excused.
9. Requests for Review which have previously been before the committee must receive approval of a majority of the committee
members before the materials will again be reviewed. Requests with less than a two-year lapse will not be considered. Every Request
for Review form will be acted upon by the committee.
10. If not satisfied with the recommendation of the committee, any person may appeal the decision to the Board of Education, in which
case the matter will be placed on the agenda of the next regular scheduled meeting of the board.
11. Any person dissatisfied with the decision of the board may appeal to the State Board of Education pursuant to Iowa Code Chapter
290.
Revised: Dec 7, 2016, January 25, 2021
Reviewed: Dec 7, 2016, Nov. 16, 2020
Approved: Feb 20, 2017
