HPISD superintendent Dawson Orr and HPHS principal Walter Kelly jointly released a statement to name the members of the “reconsideration committee” this afternoon. The committee will review The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein, which is begin taught in English II classes this year. The committee is as follows:
- Lauren Bailey, HPHS teacher
- Jill Bellomy, HPMS librarian
- Martha Coleman, parent
- Charlene Gowdey, parent
- Lisa Ham, HPISD instructional technology director and library services coordinator
- Sheila Holmes, parent
- Tavia Hunt, parent
- Amy Liu, HPHS student
- Micah Lyles, HPHS lead counselor
- Holly Philbin, parent
- Chris Walters, HPHS student
- Tara Wilcox, HPHS teacher
“We value the recent conversations we have had with students, parents, employees, alumni and community members regarding literature selection for students, and we respect all viewpoints in this matter,” Orr and Kelly said in the statement.
All committee members will read the material and discuss “whether it conforms to the principles of selection” named in the EFA (LOCAL) policy. Meetings will not be open to the public, but once they create a written report, that material will be made available.
HPISD staff has confirmed there is no formal timeline yet for the meetings.
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