Mesa Public Schools has no parental complaints about its books

By Richard Dyer
rdyer@newszap.com | Twitter: @RHDyer

“Maus,” a graphic novel by Art Spiegelman that tells the story of the Holocaust, was banned earlier this year by a school board in Tennessee.

The McMinn County (Tenn.) Board of Education was but one of a number of school districts that have banned books at the request of parents or lawmakers.

“Maus” didn’t make the 2020, 2019 or 2018 lists of the top 10 most-challenged books in the U.S. compiled by the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. For both years the top book is “George” by Alex Gino, which was challenged, banned or restricted partially because of its LGBTQIA+ content, the ALA said.

The Office for Intellectual Freedom states on its website that the lists are only a snapshot of book challenges.

“Surveys indicate that 82%-97% of book challenges — documented requests to remove materials from schools or libraries — remain unreported and receive no media,” the website states.

No books have been banned by the Mesa Unified School District, also known as Mesa Public Schools.

“(W)e haven’t had any,” Heidi Hurst, MPS director of communications and engagement said in an email. “In the case we did, requestors would be directed to Policy IIA and Administrative Regulation IIA-R, which address parental objections to learning materials and activities.”

MPS is the largest public school district in Arizona and has six high schools, nine junior high schools, 50 elementary schools and 17 choice and success schools.

The district’s Policy IIA and Administrative Regulation IIA-R can be read at go.boarddocs.com/az/mpsaz/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=ASBSS5740F00#.

Administrative Regulation IIA-R allows parents and/or guardians of students enrolled in the district to have access to instructional materials currently in use — or being considered for use — in the district. Such access, the regulation states, shall be governed by the following:

• Requests must specify the materials that the parents and/or guardians want to review.
• Requests shall be submitted to the office of the unit administrator.
• At least one copy of such instructional materials shall be available for parent and/or guardian review.
• Printed textbooks, supplementary books and other printed subject matter may be checked out for removal from district premises for up to 48 hours. All other materials, including films/videos, may be restricted for review only on district premises.
• School personnel involved in handling requests to review materials will notify the parents and/or guardians as to when and where such materials may be picked up or reviewed.
• Materials will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Under objections to learning materials and activities, it states a student whose parent and/or guardian objects to any learning material or activity may be withdrawn from the activity or from the class or program in which the material is used, providing:

• The objection is in writing and is specific in its description of the activity or learning material to which the parent and/or guardian objects.
• The objection includes a statement that the parent and/or guardian understands that the educational information and concepts covered in the activity or materials may not be covered in any other manner or form and that the parent and/or guardian understands that the student may not be able to make up the material or activity in any other way.
• Although the student may be unable to make up for the missed activity or material, no penalty will accrue to the student in grades or credit, with the exception that, if the objection removes a student from a substantial portion of a class, promotion and credit decisions will be based on applicable district policies.
• All objections shall be directed to the principal of the school in which the student is enrolled, who shall forward a copy of the written objection to the assistant superintendent, indicating that the student has been removed from the activity or stating the reason for non-removal.

Richard Dyer
Managing Editor | East Valley
@RHDyer

rdyer@iniusa.org

Meet Richard
Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.  

Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions. 

Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.

Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.

Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.