The Rochester School Committee met briefly on August 19 for the purpose of approving changes to the Student Handbook for the 2024-25 academic year and approved changes.
Committee member Robin Rounseville had requested language be included that spells out the “opt-out” option that parents/guardians have regarding their children’s ability to check out any library book similar to the language used for opting out of photographs.
The new procedure would be for parents/guardians to send an email to the librarian with the title of any book a child is not to check out, and it will be recorded and managed at the school, according to Old Rochester Regional Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson.
Committee member Anne Fernandes, attending the meeting remotely, requested the phase “check out” be revised to “access” to prevent the child from viewing the book irrespective of checking it out. Rounseville asked Fernandes how that would be accomplished from a practical standpoint.
Rounseville strongly disagreed with Fernandes’ recommendation, asserting that denying access altogether would be too cumbersome a duty for staff to carry out given all their responsibilities. Chairperson Sharon Hartley agreed with Rounseville’s concern that education would be difficult to conduct amidst a constant watch for unauthorized book access.
Member Josh Trombly took issue with a subsequent statement saying the absence of such an opt-out email would be taken as an assumption the child may access a book. He suggested making opt-out language more specific. The members agreed with his suggestion and to include a link to the opt-out procedure.
Fernandes said she understands it’s impossible to follow children around the library but reemphasized her concern about certain books’ accessibility. Fernandes would make the lone dissenting vote against acceptance of the Student Handbook as written and revised at the August 19 meeting. Hartley, Rounseville, Trombly and Kate Duggan voted to accept the Student Handbook.
Introducing the topic, Nelson referred to the committee’s last meeting in which the committee requested review of certain policies.
“There were some questions around whether the fees were going to be updated around technology replacement or damages. We opted to keep our fees the same for this year,” said Nelson.
The next meeting of the Rochester School Committee was not announced upon adjournment.
Rochester School Committee
By Mick Colageo