by Garth Meyer
Two complaints aired this fall by a parent in the Redondo Unified School District have led to tightening of its online protections and a review of library and classroom book policies.
“12 years old. See something, say something,” Monique Grant said to the school board in September, then proceeded to read aloud expletive-language and stark phrases from books offered in a middle school classroom and library.
Two weeks later, she brought her child’s Chromebook and purported to show what “inappropriate” material could be summoned on it.
The books, which Grant did not name in front of the school board, are from the “Heartstopper” series by Alice Oseman. Grant came across them byway of a syllabus for parents to sign, which included information about an Adams Middle School classroom library – the books used for silent reading in class. They were also on shelves in the school’s main library.
Would this literature, as Grant described it to the RBUSD board, be in line with district policies and guidelines?
“Normally no, I wouldn’t think so,” said Board President Raymur Flinn a few days after Grant’s comments. “We absolutely have guidelines, and it’s handled through the district office.”
The main instructional materials for Redondo Unified schools such as textbooks are approved by the board through a curriculum development process. For supplemental materials like library books or classroom-library books, a policy is in place through the Education Services office.
District Superintendent Nicole Wesley said soon after Grant’s testimony that RBUSD was in the process of reconvening a committee to review the existing policy.
The policy has been in effect for about three years, Wesley said, starting after the pandemic arose.
“It’s on our to-do list,” she said in October, of reviewing the document, with a goal to gather the committee, with a couple new members perhaps, and finish the review by Thanksgiving.
“To see if any changes need to be made, and then re-deseminate the policy,” Wesley said. “It’s on the list. We know we need to get this done.”
She and the committee have since done that – a small group featuring teachers, administrators and library/media technicians (library workers).
“We worked with union representatives to choose teachers,” Wesley said.
She reported Tuesday, Nov. 12, that a directive will be added to district policy to make it so material chosen for libraries and classrooms needs to be cross-referenced for age-appropriateness, with two “credible sources,” before new books appear in school and classroom libraries.
Recommended sources for this include Kirkus Reviews, Publisher’s Weekly, Common Sense Media, TeachingBooks and School Library Journal.
Would the excerpts Grant read at the school board meeting plausibly be from an approved book?
“I don’t know. There’s so many variables. Age level, what grade. There’s classics that have profanity,” Wesley said, after that school board meeting in September. “I just don’t know, without knowing what book she was referencing. We have a process. We’ve asked (Grant) to go through the process, so we have a better understanding of the exact book and the exact concern.”
Also, RBUSD teachers will be asked to make suggested reading lists available regarding certain topics, interest levels or coursework. Teachers should stay up-to-date on new book reviews and summaries, and publish book reviews by RBUSD staff and students.
“We’re kind of at the editing phase now,” Wesley said. “We needed to add a section to the (existing guidelines) about classroom libraries. It isn’t 100% finalized, as the next step is to review with our principals, so they can give any feedback at their next meeting, next week, and then we will share with our staff.”
The number of reported book challenges in the United States, compiled by the American Library Association, increased 65 percent from 2022 to 2023, reaching the highest level documented by the group.
“It sounds like there’s a potential cleanup needed,” RBUSD Boardmember Rolf Strutzenberg said in October. “There are things that may have been found (locally) that may be inappropriate.”
At the time of Grant’s first complaint (in September), according to Wesley one current book challenge was filed as of then, from one parent about 3-4 titles.
Chromebooks
“Eight years old and 12 years old. See something, say something,” Grant said Oct. 8 to the school board, again in public comment on non-agenda items.
Then she showed what could be found on her kids’ Chromebooks, she said. “Hardcore and softcore porn.”
“… We don’t want to oversexualize our kids. What are we doing?” Grant said. “Type ‘sex’ into a search bar. This is unacceptable.”
“We know how addictive porn is. I have a third-grade son,” she said, talking over her allotted three minutes, plus extra time the board granted her.
Later in the Oct. 8 meeting, when it was Supt. Wesley’s turn to speak, she noted that, “I’ll work with (I.T. director) Susanna Garcia and the I.T. team to follow up on the last parent comment.”
Wesley later gave an update to Easy Reader, saying that Garcia met with Grant Oct. 15 and “I.T. worked with our internet filter vendor and students; and staff and teachers will experience a more restrictive internet experience.”
“That was the outcome. We’ll continue to monitor. It’s important to note that we can alert when (suspect) searches are made,” Wesley said. We have a system in place. I.T. does a great job. They take their work seriously in protecting students.”
“We’re looking into it all of it,” said Boardmember Rachel Silverman Nemeth. “And doing the best we can to monitor appropriately.”
Monique Grant
Grant gave a positive report of her meeting with Garcia.
“The district added another layer of security,” she said. “Susana Garcia seemed on it. She said they added a fourth layer. They don’t know unless you give parent feedback. She was very willing to address it.”
Chromebooks start coming home with students in third grade, Grant noted.
“I feel that (the district) did listen. I think that they do take it seriously. My concern is, if it happens again, you can’t unsee or unhear something inappropriate once it’s seen,” Grant said. “I think every parent assumes the school has the highest safeguards.”
Last year, RBUSD blocked Spotify on Chromebooks, because of concerns about access to certain music.
“Kids then find the music on Youtube,” Grant said. “I ask administrators, at what point is Youtube more harmful than educational?”
She and husband Justin pulled their two kids from the district for one year, in 2022-23, in favor of home/hybrid schooling, over previous concerns. Grant has also opposed mask mandates in the district.
On Oct. 8, she and Justin sat down with Jason Kurtenbach, RBUSD executive director, student services; Andrew Estrada, Adams Middle School principal; and the teacher whose classroom library had the Alice Oseman books in question.
The session was a chance for Grant and Justin to air their concerns directly.
“Sex education in the district is in 8th-grade (opt-out available). You’re beating us to the punch,” Grant said later. “I feel like it’s an attack, of evil, on our kids. It doesn’t matter whether it’s hetero or homosexual, (the material) is not age-appropriate. There are a lot of great things, great programs, great enrichment in our school district, but this is the inappropriate sexualized literature.”
On Oct. 23, Grant was voted onto the Adams Middle School Site Council.
“We have a process,” Supt. Wesley said. “You fill out a dispute, and the books are reviewed by a committee. Two books are being reviewed now.”
The updated guidelines are expected to take effect in December.
“It rarely happens,” Wesley said of disputes being filed.
Q&A with Susana Garcia — RBUSD Information Technology director
Q: So further restrictions were added to the internet experience for teachers and staff at RBUSD?
A: Yes, that’s correct. In our ongoing effort to ensure a safe and productive online environment for both students and staff, we have implemented additional internet restrictions.
Q: What are the new restrictions?
A: The new restrictions primarily focus on enhancing security and minimizing distractions. We have blocked access to certain categories of websites that are deemed non-essential for educational purposes, such as entertainment, and sites that mask themselves as educational but contain malicious content.
Q: What system adjustments or changes were made through I.T. to do this?
A: To implement these changes, our I.T. department has updated the web filtering settings across the district’s network. We have also deployed new monitoring tools to ensure compliance and to quickly address any issues that may arise. These adjustments are part of our broader strategy to maintain a secure and focused educational environment. Consequently, the filtering system now detects more content using advanced technology and sends more alerts for administrators and staff to verify that Chromebook and internet usage are appropriate.
Q: What would be an example or two of something that could get through the filters before, which now is blocked?
A: Technology is currently undergoing another revolution: the AI revolution. One example is the emergence of newly created AI search engine websites categorized as “safe” search engines. However, there have been instances where searches produced inappropriate content. This content is now blocked. ER
