District Media and Technology Advisory Committee
Minutes from the June 16, 2015 Meeting
Parental Objections to Instructional Materials
Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner
June 16, 2015
Members Present
Tony Baldwin, Superintendent
Barry Pace, Director of Technology (Chair)
Joel Hathaway, Principal
Edwin Spivey, Principal
Robin Board, Principal
Sheila Lance, Parent Representative
Larry Weigel, PEP
Shelley Baust, Teacher (AIG Specialist)
Rodney Smith, Teacher (CTE)
Norman Bossert, Principal
Teresa Spring, Media Coordinator
Jim Lewis, Assistant Principal
Nathan Allison, Principal

Susanne Swanger, Associate Superintendent
Christy Cheek, CTE Director
Ronda Sortino, Special Services Director
Robert Frisby, Assistant Director of Technology
Pam Slagle, Finance
Brian Propst, Human Resources
John Parker, Digital Learning Specialist
Jane Houde, Digital Learning Facilitator
Lois Morrison, Executive Assistant
Candie Sellers, Elementary Education
Vicki Biggers, Middle School Education
Regina Lambert, High School Education
Gus Mujica, Parent Representative

Others Present
Dean Shatley, BCS Attorney
Lisa Baldwin, Parent and Complainant
Eric Grant, BCS Secondary English Language Arts Specialist
Members of the Public
Chairman Pace Called the meeting to order at approximately 8:30 a.m. Mr. Pace provided the
Committee a brief summary of the procedure for the meeting. The Committee met to hear an appeal of
a parent’s request under Policy 3210 to reconsider the use of instructional material, specifically the use
of the novel The Kite Runner in a 10th grade English class at A.C. Reynolds High School. The Committee
will only make a recommendation to the Board of Education who will make the final decision regarding
the use of the book in whole class instruction.
The Committee members introduced themselves.
The Complainant provided a ten-minute presentation supporting her request that the novel be
reconsidered for whole class instruction.
The District’s Secondary English Language Arts Specialist also provided a ten-minute presentation on
how the novel was added to the supplementary reading list and how the novel meets the criteria of
Policy 3200.
After the presentations, the Committee held a discussion on the novel and whether or not it should
remain on the supplemental materials list for high school.

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 After much discussion, essentially all of it in favor of retaining the book, John Parker moved that the
committee recommend to the Board of Education to sustain the decision of the Reynolds High School
MTAC committee to keep Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner on the approved list for high schools for
whole class instruction. The motion was seconded by Larry Weigel.
At this point, a member of the audience asked to be recognized. Mr. Pace recognized Eva Stuart who
asked to address the Committee. Mr. Shatley indicated that public comment was not on the agenda and
it would take a motion and majority vote of the committee to hear from members of the public.
Larry Weigel moved to temporarily suspend/table the main motion (sustaining the RHS MTAC decision).
Norm Bossert seconded the motion. Motion Approved.
Larry Weigel moved to allow members of the public to comment for three minutes each. Seconded by
Gus Mujica. Motion Approved.
Mr. Pace opened the floor to members of the public to address the committee. The following people
addressed the committee:
Eva Stuart
Linda Humphries
Jerry Rice
All three speakers urged the Committee to recommend that The Kite Runner not be used in whole class
instruction.
Motion by Teresa Spring to consider the suspended/tabled motion: That the committee recommend to
the Board of Education to sustain the decision of the Reynolds High School MTAC committee to keep
Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner on the approved list for high schools for whole class instruction.
Seconded by Brian Propst. Motion Passed.
Mr. Shatley restated the main motion: That the committee recommend to the Board of Education to
sustain the decision of the Reynolds High School MTAC committee to keep Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite
Runner on the approved list for high schools for whole class instruction.
Mr. Pace asked if there was any further discussion; hearing none he asked for a vote.
Motion Passed Unanimously.
Motion by Regina Lambert to delegate to the Chair and willing volunteers the responsibility to draft and
submit the written report to the Board of Education. Seconded by Robin Board. Motion Passed.
Mr. Pace thanked everyone for attending the meeting and committee members present for taking the
time to read or re-read the book and review all the materials.
Motion by Norm Bossert to adjourn. Seconded by Christy Cheek. Motion Passed. Mr. Pace adjourned
the meeting.

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