If a complaint is made, the following procedures should be followed by the building principal.
- Request the complainant to submit a formal "Request for Reconsideration of Materials." Forms are available in each principal's office.
- Inform the Superintendent and other appropriate personnel.
- Access to challenged materials shall not be restricted during the reconsideration process.
- Within ten (10) days of receiving the completed form, the principal requests review of the challenged material by a materials review committee and notifies the appropriate personnel. The review committee is appointed by the principal with the concurrence and assistance of the involved personnel. The committee will include media professional(s), representatives from each of the four academic areas at the secondary level or each grade in the elementary schools, a representative from the district technology department and two (2) community members.
- The review committee takes the following steps after receiving the challenged materials:
- Reads, views or listens to the material in its entirety;
- Checks general acceptance of the material by reading reviews and consulting recommended lists;
- Determines the extent to which the material supports the curriculum;
- Completes the appropriate "Review Committee Checklist," judging material for its strength and value as a whole and not in part. Forms are available in each principal's office; and
- Review committee's written decision goes to the principal.
- The principal informs the Superintendent in writing of the review committee's recommendation.
- After reviewing the committee's recommendation, the superintendent will send a written notice to the complainant concerning his/her decision.
- If the complainant is not satisfied with the decision made by the Superintendent, the complainant may send a final written appeal to the Board.
- After reviewing the written appeal made by the complainant, the Board will make a decision concerning the appeal and inform the complainant in writing.
- The challenged materials shall be retained or withdrawn as mandated by the final decision.
Challenges to Information Accessible on the Internet
In compliance with the Children's Internet Protection Act ("CIPA"), 47 U.S.C. § 254, the District utilizes technological devices designed to filter and block the use of any District computer with Internet access to retrieve or transmit any visual and/or audio depictions that are obscene, child pornography, or "harmful to minors" as defined by CIPA and material which is otherwise inappropriate for District students.
Due to the dynamic nature of the Internet, sometimes Internet websites and web material that do not fall into these categories are blocked by the filter. In the event that a District student or employee feels that a website or web content has been improperly blocked by the District's filter and this website or web content is appropriate for access by District students, Board Policy 6320 should be followed to request that the website be opened on District computers. In the event that a parent or District patron feels that a website or web content has been improperly blocked by the District's filter and this website or web content is appropriate for access by District students, the process described below should be followed.
- Persons with concerns regarding blocked material shall submit an anonymous unblock request as described on the CIPA Filter ACCESS DENIED screen. Request will be issued a work order number.
- Within seventy-two (72) hours, the District Superintendent/designee shall review the blocked material and make a determination regarding its appropriateness for District students.
- The determination of the unblock request will be posted by the work order number at the following site: http://www.carthage.k12.mo.us/start/statuspage.html
- A written appeal of the decision may be made to the District Superintendent. After reviewing MOREnet and CIPA policies, the Superintendent will post his/her decision to the District website.
- In case of a further appeal, the Board of Education will review the contested material and make a determination after reviewing MOREnet and CIPA policies.
- Material subject to the complaint will not be unblocked pending this review process.
Objections to Internet Access:
In the event that a student, employee, parent or District patron feels that a website or web content that is available to District students through District Internet access is obscene, child pornography, or "harmful to minors" as defined by CIPA or material which is otherwise inappropriate for District students, the process described below should be followed.
- All concerns regarding access to material shall be made to the District Superintendent/Superintendent's designee.
- Material which is patently obscene, child pornography or "harmful to minors" will be blocked immediately by the Superintendent or his designee and the complainant will be notified.
- For challenges to material on the Internet which is not patently obscene, child pornography, or "harmful to minors", the District Superintendent/Superintendent's designee shall appoint a review committee consisting of himself/herself, two (2) community members, the complainant, and two (2) educators from the District and a District network specialist. The first meeting of the review committee must take place no later than ten (10) school days after the concern has been raised.
- The committee will review the material and return within ten (10) days a decision regarding whether or not the material will be removed or restricted in any manner.
- The District Superintendent/Superintendent's designee will report the recommendation of the review committee to the complainant.
- Materials subject to the concern are not removed from use pending committee study and any final action by the Board of Education.
- The complainant, if not satisfied, may appeal the decision in writing to the District Superintendent.
- In case of an appeal, the Superintendent reports the recommendation of the review committee and the written appeal to the Board of Education. The Board of Education will review the information and make a decision within three (3) days after presentment of the information. The Board of Education's decision will be final.
- The decision of the Board of Education is then reported to the District Superintendent/Superintendent's designee who will inform the complainant.
- If the Board deems that the material is unsuitable for access by District students, the material will be blocked within three (3) school days of the Board's decision.
