Purpose: 

  • Implement administrative policy and procedure 2020.
  • Establish and/or update instructional materials screening criteria.
  • Identify and eliminate bias in instructional materials.
  • Act upon requests for instructional materials approval and removal.
  • Act upon citizen/staff requests for reconsideration of instructional materials.
  • Communicate and make public all meeting agendas and minutes.
  • Make recommendations to the superintendent per policy and procedure.

Basis for Establishment: 

  • To assure a clear process and procedure for the approval, reconsideration and removal of instruction resources per policy and procedure 2020 and state laws RCW 28A.150.230 and RCW 28A.320.230.

Decision-Making Process:

  • Microsoft Forms ballots will be used for materials presented for action at meetings.  A quorum is preferred and in the case where a quorum is not available, members may be invited to vote by proxy.  The IMC serves as an advisory to the superintendent.

Plan of Work: 

  • Act upon requests of staff for approval, reconsideration or removal of instructional resources.
  • Director of Teaching and Learning shares agenda items with the Department of Teaching and Learning (DTL) prior to the IMC meeting.
  • Director of Teaching and Learning shares outcome of the IMC meeting with DTL team following IMC meeting.
  • Present recommendation to the superintendent.

Members: 

  • This committee uses rotating, staggered memberships.  Three-year, two-year and one-year memberships will be used so that new members join with those who have experience with the policy and procedure.  Vacancies will be filled based on the term-length that was vacated.
    • Primary teachers: 1.Kristi Holmes, Sunnyland Elementary,  2. Caren Pitsch, Northern Heights Elementary
    • Intermediate teachers or resource teachers: 1. Open, 2. Open
    • Middle school teachers or resource teachers: 1. Abby Atkins, Fairhaven Middle School, 2. Alli Neils-LeMoine, Bellingham High School
    • High school teachers or counselor: 1. Maryann Kuhn, Bellingham Virtual Learning, 2. Jen Reidel, Bellingham High School
    • Elementary library media specialist: Kristin Cleary, Silver Beach Elementary
    • Middle school library media specialist: Bill Palmer, DTL
    • High school library media specialist: Open
    • School administrators: 1. Craig Baldwin, Cordata Elementary, 2. Martin Atkins, Bellingham High School
    • Parents/community members: 1. Christopher Bye, Geneva Elementary, 2.Davi Weasley, Parkview, 3.Johann Neem, Shuksan Middle School and Bellingham High School
    • Executive Team member: Mike Copland, Deputy Superintendent, Ex-officio
    • Chair: Charisse Berner, Director of Teaching & Learning

Meeting Dates:

2022-23 School Year: All  meetings are 4:15-6:00 pm via Zoom

2021-22 School Year:

2020-21 School Year

No IMC meetings held during the 2020-21 school year due to pandemic

2019-20 School Year: All meetings are 4:15 – 5:30 pm at the District Off – canceled

  • May 18, 2020 – canceled

2018-19 School Year: No Meetings

2017-18 School Year: No Meetings

2016-17 School Year:  All meetings are 4 to 6 p.m. at the District Office

2015-16 School Year – All meetings are 4 to 6 p.m. at District Office Room 205

  • March 28, 2016 – Meeting Cancelled
  • April 26, 2016 – Establish committee purpose; understand policy, procedure and state regulations; review committee/teacher forms
  • May 9, 2016 – Act upon staff recommendation of staff for approval of resources.
  • June 7, 2016 – Act upon staff recommendation of staff for approval of resources.

Responsibilities:

  • Review meeting materials (including reading some proposed items such as novels) prior to meetings when made available, attend meetings and vote on recommendations.

Timeline: 

  • 2015-16 school year:  one meeting to establish committee purpose; additional meetings as needed to receive materials recommendation from schools and/or team(s) and/or any requests for reconsideration.
  • 2016-17 and beyond: IMC meets quarterly/as needed.  Meeting schedule developed and communicated to the members and on this site.