Florida Book Challenges: Lake County Schools

Good Afternoon Adam Steinbaugh,

Please see attached PDF's and responses below regarding your Public Record Request.

1. A copy of any records generated or received pursuant to any policy concerning challenges to curricular, instructional, or library materials.

- None found.

1. A copy of any complaints (including informal complaints), and any records generated as a result of the complaints, where the complaint led to a change in status of any book or material in a school library.

- See attachments.

1. A copy of any current policy concerning challenges to curricular, instructional, or library materials.

- https://www.lake.k12.fl.us/ Click on the "CHALLENGED MATERIALS PROCESS" option at the top of the home page.

1. A copy of any public record request received concerning books, library materials, or curricular materials and any records produced in response to the request.

- See Public Record Request Log below.

Date requested
Requestor's Name
Information requested
7/26/2021
Alexander Bumbu
Location of books.
8/10/2021
Alexander Bumbu
Follow-up request... Are materials in Amplify Education Library considered supplemental materials? If not, do we track supplemental materials? Are the listed books in the supplemental materials?
04/27/22
Entered by:
S. Cox
Jen Cousins & Stephana Ferrell
Florida Freedom To Read Project
∙ Documents and emails from the 21/22 school year that include the policies/procedures associated with library and curriculum literary works challenges and removals
∙ Challenge forms, emailed requests, and/or call logs for removal of literary works submitted to any school within the district or directly to the district during the 21/22 school year
∙ A list of any literary works (library or curriculum) removed during the 21/22 school year by way of school leadership, committee review, and/or School Board along with a description of why the book was removed. This includes temporary removals while under review. Please include the date the book became inaccessible to students and the date the book was returned (if applicable).

04/27/22 - Requestor sent another email stating other districts requesting them to clarify keywords that should be used when addressing our request in the first bullet point. To clarify that portion of the request, here are better parameters:
∙ Dates: 1/1/22 to present day
∙ Keywords (containing any of the following): HB1557, HB7, HB1467, "library book removal", "challenge to instructional materials", "gender identity", LGBTQ, "challenged materials", "library challenge", "adoption of library books", "Parents' Rights in Education", "Anti-Racism", "library access", "restricted access to the library", "K-3 restricted access", "Media Specialist Certification", Destiny, Follett, "textbook challenge"
∙ Draft versions, presentations or emails that include discussions and/or updates that must be made to existing policy to comply with the 2022 FL state education legislation.

05/04/22 - The requestor has replied and asked - "To help us narrow the terms for the email search, would you be able to provide us with a full breakdown of how many emails each keyword returned? We might be able to select the ones that will most likely meet our goals or pair certain ones up to reduce the total amount returned or the likelihood of repeats".
05/23/22
Entered by: S. Cox
Matthew Apthorp
Requesting -
∙ Does the district have or is the district planning to adopt a new policy that allows parents to determine his/her child's access to certain library books? If so, can you please provide any details of that policy that are available.
∙ Is there a plan to revise their 'student library book access' policies anytime soon and if so, to what?
06/20/22
Entered by: S. Cox
Jen Cousins & Stephana Ferrell
Florida Freedom To Read Project
Requesting electronic copies of countywide weeding lists for the last three school years (19/20, 20/21, 21/22). Additionally, requestor would like the latest versions of documents that cover weeding guidelines, policies, and procedures educators must follow as they dispose of these books.
06/21/22
Entered by: S. Cox
Adam Steinbaugh
Muckrock News
Requesting -
1. A copy of any records generated or received pursuant to any policy concerning challenges to curricular, instructional, or library materials.

2. A copy of any complaints (including informal complaints), and any records generated as a result of the complaints, where the complaint led to a change in status of any book or material in a school library.

3. A copy of any current policy concerning challenges to curricular, instructional, or library materials.

4. A copy of any public record request received concerning books, library materials, or curricular materials and any records produced in response to the request.

*This request is limited to records generated on or after January 01, 2021.
Kindly,

Public Record Request
(SC) │ Human Resources
PH: 352.253.6530 │ FAX: 352.253.6502
OnlineApplication@lake.k12.fl.us<mailto:OnlineApplication@lake.k12.fl.us>
[xsmall2]

Under Florida's "Public Records" law, absent a specific exclusion, written communications to or from Lake School District employees are considered public records. E-mail communication with this correspondent may be subject to public and media disclosure upon request.