With Plano ISD receiving increased attention on the books in their campus libraries, many are asking what is the reconsideration process and does it work.
On August 2, 2022, the Plano ISD School Board adopted a new policy on challenges to books in their library collection, and it’s important people filing these reconsideration forms avoid the traps and stay on top of the process through to completion. This new policy provides a reconsideration form to submit on paper or digitally.
Paper Reconsideration Form: https://www.pisd.edu/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=70605&dataid=117077&FileName=EFB_EXHIBIT.pdf
Digital Reconsideration Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeDoIs_I0j7fi3NeQYssdI0cgqSnuoJKN5WuvB3o5gyfSb-Ww/viewform (redirect from https://bit.ly/libraryreconsiderationrequest)
Once submitted, Julie Briggs, Plano ISD Director of Learning Media Services, then decides who will review this book.
“Upon receipt of the form, the director of learning media services shall appoint a reconsideration committee.
The reconsideration committee shall include at least one librarian and at least one member of the instructional staff who is familiar with the challenged material’s content. Other members of the committee may include District-level staff, secondary-level students, parents, and any other appropriate individuals.
All members of the committee shall review the challenged library material in its entirety. As soon as reasonably possible, the committee shall meet and determine whether the challenged material conforms to the principles of selection set out in this policy and whether the challenged material will continue to be used in the educational program. The committee shall prepare a written report of its findings. The Superintendent, other appropriate administrators, and the complainant shall receive copies of the report.”
Plano ISD Board Policy EFB (LOCAL)
This is a blank Reconsideration Committee Report which they will complete with their findings:
Per Plano ISD, if the book is not removed and not appealed, no one is able to rechallenge that book for 5 years:
“After a reconsideration decision is made to include, limit, or exclude a library resource from use, that same resource shall not be subject to another request for reconsideration for a period of five years.”
Plano ISD Board Policy EFB (LOCAL)
To continue challenging the book, a person then appeals the decision to the Superintendent. It is very important to know that the appeal must be filed within 10 business days. Also, there is no appeal form, rather the appellant is apparently supposed to provide a free-form, written response of their rationale for appeal along with copies of previously submitted and received documents:
“The complainant may appeal the decision of the library material reconsideration committee to the Superintendent. The appeal notice must be filed in writing within ten business days of the date recorded on the reconsideration of library materials committee report. The appeal must include a copy of the request for reconsideration of library materials, the reconsideration of library materials committee report, and a written rationale for the appeal.”
Plano ISD Board Policy EFB (LOCAL)
If the Superintendent does not choose to remove the book, then there is a final appeal to the School Board, following the same routine as the prior appeal: it must be filed within 10 business days and again there is no appeal form but rather a written rationale for the appeal is to be provided along with copies of previously submitted and received documents.
The decision of the School Board is final. Any prior level decision not appealed within 10 business days is also final.
Educate Plano 