Mat-Su School Board reverses decision on controversial curriculum change

The Mat-Su Borough School Board met on Wednesday and voted 6-1 to rescind its April 22nd decision regarding the removal of curriculum.  In that decision, the Mat-Su School Board voted to remove five highly touted pieces of literature.  The books removed were:  I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Catch-22, The Things They Carried, The Great Gatsby, Invisible Man, and also journalism curriculum from the New York Times.

At its May 6 meeting, the School Board entertained over three hours of public testimony, most of which was in favor of keeping the five books on the approved curriculum list.

At Wednesday’s meeting, the School Board agreed to review State Statues and revisit the issue of curriculum guidelines in one year, May of 2021.  This leaves the status of the books in limbo, with no approved curriculum list for English electives for the coming school year.

Before Wednesday’s meeting, parents, teachers and supporters gathered in the parking lot for a socially distant demonstration, to air their frustration over what they called the School Board’s lack of public process and lack of respect for established procedures.

The rally was also protesting the process the School Board used in naming a new Superintendent.  The School Board announced at its regular May 6th meeting that it was delaying the nomination, due to COVID-19.  But two days later, the School Board did announce a candidate, and approved Randy Trani as the Superintendent of the Mat-Su School District, just four days later at a special meeting. 

Wednesday’s meeting took well over the four hours normally allotted for school board meetings and adjourned close to midnight.