From: Concerned Citizen <ConcernedWeldCitizen@protonmail.com> Date: On Monday, March 27th, 2023 at 11:59 AM Subject: D6 Book Review Committee Questions To: Amy Lemon D6 Secretary <alemon@greeleyschools.org>
Hello Ms Lemon,
I have a few questions I am hoping you can answer for me regarding the book review committee.
How are members selected?
Who selects committee members?
Is any interested party denied committee membership?
If so, what disqualifies them?
Are the names of the committee members public?
If so, please provide.
If not, please provide the justification.
Is the decision to maintain or remove a book voted on?
If so, Majority rule? Unanimous vote? 2/3 ratio? Other?
Is there a public record of this vote?
If so, please provide.
Is there a record of concurring comments?
If so, please provide.
If not,
How is it determined?
Is there a record of dissenting comments?
If so, please provide
Thank you in advance.
On Monday, Mar 27, 2023 at 2:53 PM Concerned Citizen <ConcernedWeldCitizen@protonmail.com> wrote:
Hi Lindsey,
I received an out-of-office reply from Amy that noted you would be able to help in her absence.
Can you please get these answers for me?
Thank you.
On Tuesday, March 28th, 2023 at 4:00 PM, LINDSEY RICHARDS <lrichards@greeleyschools.org> wrote:
Hi,
Thank you for your email. The information regarding the Book Review Committee selection, composition, process and procedures are outlined in policy KEC and KEC-R which are linked on our Book Review Website.
Lindsey Richards, MBA Executive Assistant to Dr. Stacie Datteri Academic Achievement and K8 School Leadership 1025 Ninth Avenue, Greeley, Colorado 80631 Telephone: 970-348-6266 Web: www.greeleyschools.org
From: Concerned Citizen <ConcernedWeldCitizen@protonmail.com> Date: On Tuesday, March 28th, 2023 at 6:11 PM To: LINDSEY RICHARDS <lrichards@greeleyschools.org> CC: Amy Lemon <alemon@greeleyschools.org>
Lindsey,
I have already visited that page, and it doesn't provide any of the answers to the questions I've asked.
I will forward my questions to President Mathews. Perhaps he'll be able to provide these answers.
Thanks
On Tuesday, Mar 28, 2023, 9:25 PM, Concerned Citizen < ConcernedWeldCitizen@protonmail.com> wrote:
President Michael Mathews,
I have been unsuccessful in finding answers to my questions regarding the book review committee. I am trying the best I can to understand how the committee came to the decision to provide children 11 and up with a book that depicts bloody assaults on children, sex with cows, grown men getting erections for children, forced sex, and language we can't use in school board meetings.
I believe having the answers to the following questions could clear up some confusion. And since this is a public school, funded by extortion of public money, responsible for public education, these answers are owed to the public.
Please provide.
From: Concerned Citizen <ConcernedWeldCitizen@protonmail.com> Date: On Monday, April 3rd, 2023 at 9:01 AM Subject: Fw: D6 Book Review Committee Questions To: D6 BOE & Superintendent Pilch
President Mathews,
I have yet to receive a reply from you, nor has anyone else been able to provide answers to any of my questions. The questions I've asked are very simple and direct, so I don't understand the delay. The appeals hearing is one week away. I would like to have a good understanding of the people and process involved.
Thank you.
From: ConcernedWeldCitizen@protonmail.com Wednesday, April 5th, 2023 at 2:00 PM To: D6 Board of Education & Wes Tuttle <wtuttle@greeleyschools.org> Subject: Reply Requested - D6 Book Review Committee Questions
Mr. Mathews,
I am still awaiting a reply from you. I would like to have these answers heading into the appeals hearing, which is less than a week away. I've simplified the questions. Feel free to copy and paste them in your response, as not to miss anything.
1. How are book review committee members selected?
2. Who selects committee members?
3. Is any interested party denied committee membership?
If so, what disqualifies them?
4. Are the names of the committee members public?
If so, please provide. If not, please provide the justification.
5. Is the decision to maintain or remove a book voted on?
If so, Is it majority rule? Unanimous vote? 2/3 ratio? Other?
Is there a public record of this vote? (Please provide)
If not, how is it determined?
6. Is there a record of dissenting/concurring committee member comments? (If so, please provide)
7. How many members are there on the book review committee?
Thank you
On Thursday, April 6th, 2023 at 12:39 PM, MICHAEL MATHEWS <mmathews@greeleyschools.org> wrote:
Please excuse the delayed response. I am not actually in possession of the answers to most of these questions. Like other presentations we receive from our different committees, I expect the relevant information to be shared at the board meeting. I do know that there are around 20 individuals on the committee and that their names will not be made public.
Kind regards,
Michael Mathews
Board of Education, President
Greeley-Evans School District 6
From: ConcernedWeldCitizen@protonmail.com
Friday, April 7th, 2023 at 3:13 AM
To: D6 BOE, Superintendent Pilch & Wes Tuttle
Mr. Mathews,
What is the justification for not releasing the names of committee members? How many committees does District 6 have in operation? Are all committee membership lists withheld from the public?
Also, who will be presenting on the book review committee on Monday? I would like to send them my list of questions, so they can be answered during the presentation.
I am trying to sign up for public comment for the upcoming book review committee, and the participation link gives me a “permission required” message. Please advise.
Also, in Monday's book review committee presentation, Wes Tuttle really stressed the importance of the book review committee meeting in-person and not over Zoom, stating it was hard to have this type of discussion over Zoom. Are these meetings recorded? This is very much an issue of public interest and I would like to have the chance to review the committee's 6-hour discussion Mr. Tuttle touched on.
I agree with Mr. Tuttle, that this is a hard discussion to have over Zoom. Which makes me wonder why the only available options for public comment are written or Zoom formats. I would like to be able to address the committee as a whole, in-person. I would like to see the faces of the people who are tasked with this duty. Who are these people who are so enthusiastically praised for their hard work and time commitment? And why are their names being withheld from the public? Let us give credit where credit is due.
In his presentation, Wes says "indication is" Beloved was purchased (assuming by District 6) in 1999, and last in 2004. His wording is interesting, and unclear. Where did this "indication" come from?
For how long has Beloved been available for students in each of these school libraries? Has Beloved been on the shelf, available to children as young as kindergarten, since 1999?
I would hate to have any child stumble upon literature that would expose them to a bloody murder scene where a baby is thrown against a wall and killed. Then there's the sexual excitement of grown men for children and cows, and the sex that follows. And let's not forget the forced sex - rape. Certainly, there are still some adults in our system that are willing to protect children. What has been done to prevent a K-5 student from reading this passage, or the plethora of others?
I'm looking forward to some timely and direct answers.
Thank you for your email regarding Public Comment sign-up for the Book Review Committee meetings. Public Comment sign-up is available two weeks prior to the first meeting of the book that is being reviewed. It closes at 12 pm on the committee's first meeting date for that book. So, the public comment for Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close closed on April 4th at 12 pm.
The next book the committee is set to review is Kite Runner. Public Comment sign-up for that book title will open tomorrow, April 18th as the first meeting for that book is two weeks after. The Book Review Committee meetings are not recorded.
Please check our Book Review Committee webpage tomorrow for an update on the Public Comment sign-up for Kite Runner.
The Book Review Committee is not an open meeting. The committee holds Public Comment during the first meeting via Zoom to hear from those who wish to make a statement about the upcoming review of the material. The Public Comment is not a discussion with the committee.
Have a great day,
Lindsey Richards Executive Assistant Academic Achievement Weld County District 6
Thank you for the clarification on the sign-up issue, and thank you for answering some of my questions.
What I understand so far is that these meetings are in-person only, the issue is not voted on, no one's name or opinion is on record, and they discuss the book and reach a "consensus", behind closed doors, in meetings that are not open to the public, and not recorded. Please correct me if I'm misunderstanding any of that.
I also understand that the public comment isn't a discussion with the board, but rather a chance to address the people who will be making important decisions for our children.
Will I be able to see the committee members as I address them with my concerns?
Here are the questions from my original email that remain unanswered.
In his presentation, Wes Tuttle says "indication is" Beloved was purchased (assuming by District 6) in 1999, and last in 2004. His wording is interesting, and unclear.
Where did this "indication" come from?
How long has Beloved been available for students in each of these school libraries?
Has Beloved been on the shelf, available to children as young as kindergarten, since 1999?
Who are these committee members who are so continually thanked and praised for their hard work and time commitment?
Why are their names being withheld from the public?
What has been done to prevent a K-5 student from reading this passage, or the plethora of others?
I've asked direct questions. Please provide direct answers.
I am still awaiting a reply with answers to the questions I've asked.
Please help me ensure I am understanding this correctly. The book review committee meetings happen in-person only, behind closed doors, that are not open to the public, or recorded. The issue at hand is not voted on, no one's name or opinion is on record. They only have a discussion before reaching a "consensus". Is any of this inaccurate?
Also, I would like specific details regarding question number 6. Terri Pappas claims that those who have claimed this book is available to K-5 students are not correct, but Mr. Tuttle noted that this was just the recommendation, he does not note that any action that has already been taken in this arena. If the public is mistaken, please correct the record and let us know what has already been done to prevent K-5 students from being exposed to this graphic, sexually exciting content.
Thank you in advance.
On Wednesday, April 26th, 2023 at 12:26 PM, Academic Achievement <d6_academicachievement@greeleyschools.org> wrote:
Good afternoon,
The recommendation to restrict Beloved for K-5 students was not implemented until the Board of Education reached its decision on April 10, 2023. The Book Review Committee made findings and recommendations to the Superintendent, who had the authority to uphold, reject, or modify the committee’s recommendations. Given that the Board of Education received appeals for the Superintendent’s decision, the K-5 restriction was not implemented until after the Board of Education reached its final decision on Beloved. Beloved is now restricted for K-5 students per the Board’s April 10, 2023 decision.
The Book Review Committee process is described in Board Regulation KEC-R. Additional Information regarding public concerns/complaints about instructional resources can be found via this link on the District’s Academic Achievement webpage.
Have a great day,
Lindsey Richards
From: Concerned Citizen <ConcernedWeldCitizen@protonmail.com> Date: On Wednesday, April 26th, 2023 at 12:40 PM Subject: Re: Fw: Re: Book Review Committee - Public Participation To: Academic Achievement <d6_academicachievement@greeleyschools.org>, Wes Tuttle <wtuttle@greeleyschools.org>, D6 BOE, Deirdre Pilch D6 Superintendent <dpilch@greeleyschools.org>, D6 BOE Security
Thank you for the response, though this doesn't answer my questions.
What changes have been implemented to restrict K-5 students' access to this book in their library, as of 4/10/23?
How long has Beloved been available for students in each of these school libraries?
Why are committee member's names being withheld from the public?
And last, am I misunderstanding any of the statements in my last email regarding the book review process?
Thank you.
From: <ConcernedWeldCitizen@protonmail.com> To: Academic Achievement<d6_academicachievement@greeleyschools.org> D6 Secretary Lindsey Richards<lrichards@greeleyschools.org> Sunday, May 7th, 2023 at 10:25 AM
Hello Lindsey,
It's been almost 2 weeks since I last heard from you. Hopefully this has allowed you enough time to round up the answers to the questions I've asked. I'm looking forward to having them.
Is the following statement accurate?
“The book review committee meets in-person only, behind closed doors, that are not open to the public. Meetings are not recorded. The issue at hand is not voted on. No one's name is on record with their opinion, and they simply have a discussion before reaching a consensus".
What changes have been implemented to restrict K-5 students' access to this book in their library, as of 4/10/23?
How long has Beloved been available for students in each of these school libraries?
Why are committee member's names being withheld from the public?
