Wrestling club tournament approved

PRESCOTT – The Prescott School District has only had concerns raised twice in 12 years about the contents of a book in its media center/libraries, and those informal conversations were handled by library staff.

However, given that it’s somewhat of a hot-button issue at some nearby districts, the Prescott School Board at its meeting Jan. 18 reviewed a policy that will come back for an official first reading at its February meeting setting up a review process if a complaint is lodged. The district currently doesn’t have a policy to address complaints about media center material, said Superintendent Dr. Rick Spicuzza.

“Our district currently does not have a library media center challenge policy in place,” he said.

The board reviewed a proposed policy but asked that it be brought back at the next meeting for further review. If it makes it through the first reading, it would be ratified in March after a second reading and put into place.

Under the proposed policy, a complaint would have to be delivered to the district superintendent and identify the book title, author and publisher.

A committee then would meet within 10 school days, and the board is still working on the makeup of that committee. For certain, it would have building level administration, two teachers and a librarian. Discussion still centers around including two members of the community and possibly a student from either the student council in the building where the complaint was filed or media class student.

If the complainant doesn’t agree with the committee decision, an appeal could be made to Spicuzza, and the board would review it.

“The committee would review the concerns of the complaint of the parent or the student,” said Spicuzza. “We really haven’t experienced this type of challenge before, but we thought it would be good to be proactive.”

“We do work with families. There are options. Families can work with our libraries if they say there’s a book they don’t want their child to read. What you may not want in the library shouldn’t necessarily be dictated to their families,” Spicuzza added.

Said board member Pat Block, “This is just frustrating, right?”

He was in favor of just staff and a school board member.

“Is it odd there’s a member of the community? Maybe. I do think right now I would advocate for a school board member on there and that might address the member of the community,” he said. “I don’t think it’s the place for a student to be on there.”

“I probably would not have a community member on there either. This is a school board education decision. A school board member is fine,” Tanya Holub said, noting that the committee may not be the place for a student. “Some of the stuff become politicized more than we need to bring our students into.”

She spoke in favor of the policy overall.

“I think it’s really good we’re putting this in place,” she said. “It’s similar to curriculum where we can pull something out and have conversations about it (if parents have concerns).”

Spicuzza suggested that if a book is reviewed by the committee, its decision would stand for five years “so that you don’t just have the same collection being targeted every year.”

“It stands for a period of years. It’s not like next week they can come back and challenge it again,” Spicuzza said.

The makeup of the committee as well as how it would be chosen still needs to be ironed out.

“I’m for having one school board member on there. I think having a member or two of the community wouldn’t be a bad idea,” Board President Mike Matzek said. “The selection of the committee is really important. I would be for having community members and a secondary student. I think the selection process needs to be ironed out.”

Spicuzza said the policy will be refined and brought back.

“I think what I’m taking away is the makeup of the committee we have to talk about, and we have to talk about how the selection process will be done,” he said. “We’ll come back with alternatives to help you finalize this.”

Facility use

The school board voted unanimously – with Vicki Rudolph abstaining – to allow the Prescott Wrestling Club to host its large tournament at the high school in March.

Wrestling club members voiced concern about the district’s new facility use policy.

After discussions with the district insurance company and legal counsel, it was decided that the blanket wrestling association insurance coverage will work to hold the event.

“At this point the administration is supportive of extending an opportunity for the Prescott wrestling group to host a tournament in the Prescott Public Schools during the month of March 2023,” said Spicuzza.

The tournament features teams from several states and is hosted annually by the wrestling club.

The district put a new facility use policy in place at the start of this school year.

Public comment

The board is working to refine its policy on public comment at board meetings.

Under the updated policy, which passed on a first reading and will have a second reading at the February board meeting Feb. 15, residents will have three minutes to address the board on topics that the board has decision-making power over during the public comment time at board meetings. If the person is speaking on behalf of others as well, that could be extended to six minutes if there are three people, and their names must go on the record as well.

The board would allow for a maximum of 30 minutes at a meeting for public comment if there were that many people wanting to speak.

Matzek said many districts make speakers register in advance with what they’re going to discuss, but Prescott will keep its process the same. Speakers step to the podium, state their name and address the board.

“We’re going to leave it the way it is and let the process stay the same,” said Matzek.

Speakers can talk about items not on the board agenda that evening.

“We’ve seen that recently with the group that wanted to talk to us about the facility use,” said Matzek. “They have to talk about school business. It can’t be about something we do not have oversight on.”

Holub agreed. “It’s not just an open mic session,” she said.

The new policy also forbids audience members from clapping or yelling out while someone is speaking.

“We’ve allowed some of that in the past. We’re asking out of respect for others that that’s something people don’t participate in,” she said.

Retirement The board accepted the retirement of English teacher Bonnie McNary, who has taught at the school district for 37 years.

“Obviously Ms. McNary has been a stellar employee and just somebody that has been a true treat to work with at PHS and has touched many lives,” said Spicuzza.

Board members praised her work for the district and community.

“Thank you for all you have done. I had you,” said Block. “The school paper was one of my favorite classes. I still talk about it today.”

“You were really immersed in the community,” said Holub. “Our community is really thankful for you.”

“Enjoy retirement. I’m sure you’ll be on the sub list,” Matzek joked.