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School board weighs book policy

Anderson County Board of Education has been discussing but has yet to vote on policies related to, a state law about school library books passed last July.

First, the law requires each school board to pass a policy for school libraries. This policy must have a procedure for how to choose books appropriate for students’ age and maturity levels. Second, it requires each board of education have a procedure to evaluate feedback from students and parents on library books. Third, it requires a procedure to regularly review the books already at each school’s library. Parents and students can appear before the board to challenge books, and then the board will have 60 days to review it or else a state committee will make that decision for them. There is, however, an appeal process.

“I adamantly oppose removing books. I think the librarians need to be making those decisions. The teachers need to be making those decisions,” Board of Education member Dail Cantrell, who led the discussion at the board’s Dec. 9 work session said. Cantrell works as a lawyer at the Cantrell Law firm and spoke on the issues from a legal and personal perspective. “I cannot think of a book other than pornography that I would say should not be in a school system,” he said, although he said that the appropriate books for an 18-year-old high school student were not the same as the ones for an elementary school student. Similarly, Board of Education Chairman Scott Gillenwaters said students should be able to research any topic.

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Anderson County school board serenaded as it wraps up the year


Norris Middle School students sang “Feliz Navidad” and “Mele Kalikimaka” at the Anderson County Board of Education meeting Dec. 12. - Ben Pounds
Norris Middle School students treated Anderson County school board members to a chorus of Christmas songs during the board’s Dec. 12 meeting.

The students, wearing leis, sang “Feliz Navidad” and “Mele Kalikimaka” amid a poinsettia-decorated meeting room.

Lauren Sharon, who teaches the world cultures class, introduced the program.

Choir teacher Angela Goodale accompanied the students on the box drum while health teacher Gerald Sharon played the guitar.

“They worked really, really hard for the past two weeks getting ready to try and ring in the Christmas spirit and so we want to just invite you guys to join in with us,” Lauren Sharon said.

The presentation began a short Board of Education end of the-calendar year meeting.

There were several decisions of note, but all votes were unanimous, and there was little controversy.



ACHS Softball

The board discussed a request for a new softball locker facility for Anderson County High School.

Director of Schools Tim Parrott told The Courier News that the school plans to remodel the existing girls’ softball locker room. He said the school has raised the money to complete the project, so it won’t cost the school district anything.

Board member Dail Cantrell made the motion to approve, and Darren Carden seconded.

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