We urge you to focus on the issues that align with our Vision 2030 Mission, Vision, Values and Motto: Mansfield ISD; a great place to live, learn and teach. Rewriting a book policy to remove more books out of circulation does not align with these Vision 2030 statements. We support parents rights and using the system already in place to address concerns and keep children safe.
We know that Mansfield ISD is not like so many Tarrant County school districts we've been lumped in with. We are diverse in thought, in character, and in practice. Mansfield ISD residents and parents do not want one ideology to rule, but to practice what we preach about being a destination district committed to academic excellence. We don't want Mansfield ISD to devolve into a district known for putting a muzzle on our diversity, but to focus on the wonderful things that make Mansfield ISD great. We also recognize that trustees have many demands for their time and believe the district should rely on the high-educated, qualified librarians to make collection curation decisions that align with the policy goals the board sets forth. The proposed policy rubric takes a narrow value system and forces it upon our community, taking away parental rights.
These signatures will be delivered to the school board to let them know our community stands behind our librarians and that we want them to focus on real issues our students are grappling with and leading the district, not on micro-managing and approving books.
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Emails sent last week and another one today about the Librarian Love Train and the United for MISD launch party Sunday 9/24 at Chandler Park from 1-3pm. https://www.facebook.com/events/243198208224820/permalink/243198218224819
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I am hosting an event to bring us back to focus on what we value about libraries and books: READING! Join me for a Community Read-In on Tuesday from 6-7 just before the board meeting. It’ll be outside so be prepared to deal with water damage to your book (sweat.) Let’s get together and read!
https://www.fightforthefirst.org/events/misd-community-read-in
This coming Tuesday, June 6, the board has called for a meeting that wasn't on the published schedule. Policy changes are not on the agenda. https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/1116?meeting=586323
We have 1300 signatures, but it is not enough. Let's use this petition to amplify our voices. This district has 35,000 students. We can get more, there are still so many that have no clue this policy is getting pushed by a small cabal. We know it's summer break and people are busy, but please keep spreading the word about this new policy.
We KNOW there are more people in our community that are against censorship because we know that the Mansfield ISD community is not a book-banning kind of place. It's just not who we are.
The next scheduled board meeting is June 27: Public Hearing/Regular Board Meeting. The agenda will be posted 72 hours prior but the board has said that we can likely expect the next reading of the proposed policy changes to happen at that meeting.
The next board meeting is Tuesday 5/23 at 6pm. This policy is not on the agenda but it is my understanding that there will still be people coming to speak at the public comments and tying the comments to an item in the agenda. There are 13 pages of resignations, which seems extremely high. There is also a notice to terminate a contract for cause, I think related to the domestic violence arrest of an employee last week. Also on the agenda is approving last week's meeting minutes, so a reference to that agenda item might be a good way to open the floor for your comments related to it. Meeting starts at 6pm with the seating of Benita Reed and then moves to closed session. There's no telling how long closed session will last.
https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/1116?meeting=582784
1,000 signatures reached
On Tuesday, May 16, the school board met for the first reading of the proposed policy changes. There were several changes included and they were voted to proceed to the second reading by a vote of 5-1. Also at the meeting were a large contingent of parents, teachers, librarians, and this year's Teacher of the Year to speak against the proposed changes. There were 49 speakers AGAINST and 4 speakers FOR the changes. https://mansfieldisd.new.swagit.com/videos/230380
On Wednesday, May 17, a contingent of board members (3) and representatives from admin will host a Community Conversation at 6pm at Danny Jones Elementary school where people can ask questions and the trustees or admin can answer them (unlike in public comment periods). More details can be found here: https://www.mansfieldisd.org/about-misd/school-board/board-communication
500 signatures reached
100 signatures reached
50 signatures reached
25 signatures reached
On Tues, May 16, the Mansfield ISD school board will have the first reading of the proposed revisions to the book policies. You can find it as an attachment in section 8.4 here. https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/1116?meeting=582043
10 signatures reached