The Delphi Community School Corporation Board of School Trustees listened to an hour and a half of testimony, both in favor and against a recommendation by a community curriculum review committee, to continue to allow three novels on the required reading list for high school advance placement/junior honors English Literature class. The books in question are "Chinese Handcuffs" by Chris Crutcher, "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrrison (both of which have been in the curriculum since 2002) and "In Country" by Bobbie Ann Mason.

At least 175 people attended the Monday night board meeting to listen to the proceedings after a group of parents objected to the required reading texts. The committee reviewed the selections and decided they were appropriate and useful as teaching tools. An appeal was made to the school board by the objecting parents and the school board was then bound to make the final determination.

Forty-four audience members spoke during public comments at the beginning of the meeting. Some spoke in favor of the committee's recommendation and some spoke against the ruling. Some were parents of DCHS students and others were DCHS students. Some were former students while others who spoke either home-school their children or were children who were home-schooled.

Those in favor of retaining the books on the required reading list explained books provide a safe and secure way for children and young adults to delve into sensitive material and subjects. They said those who are subjected to explicit reading material are more able to handle unpleasant situations in their own lives.

Opponents to the required reading material said readers had the right to refuse to read material which was offensive to them.

Proponents of the current curriculum emphasized students in their junior year are not fragile. They are young adults and should be afforded opportunities within which to grow. It was noted that most juniors have drivers' licenses and will soon be not only voting in elections, but will be eligible to hold public office.

However, one opposed to the books compared the content to that in Hustler magazine. He read a sexually explicit excerpt from one of the books to the audience to illustrate his point.

Another patron expressed her point in simple and direct words.

"If these books are not harmful, I don't know what is," patron Sharon Milburn said.

"My sister was raped and murdered," local resident Lori Heron said. "The man who did that did not learn about it in a book."

"We hear more walking in the halls (at Delphi High School) than we did reading those books," a current student reported.

Board member Melinda Rossetter made a motion to allow the books to appear on an optional list of books to read with parental consent. Chris Nipple provided the second.

Rossetter said she was not in favor of banning books, however those in question did not help ISTEP scores. She said she had "enormous concern of the effect of the books on children." Rossetter added that controversial content should not be forced onto children.

"It just wouldn't be right," she said.

Rossetter's motion was defeated, five-to-one.

Jerry Sparks made the next motion.

"I move to accept the recommendation of the Book Review Committee to keep the three books in question as well as all books currently listed in the current syllabus as part of the class reading requirements without any further review," he said.

The motion passed five-to-one. Rossetter provided the sole nay vote.

Other business

The board approved the purchase of software, four biometric time clocks, a USB port and a battery back-up unit for $33,085 in a four-to-two vote. Superintendent Ralph Walker said the purchase was necessary to ensure compliance with Indiana State Board of Accounts accounting practices, the FLSA and Department of Labor regulations as they relate to recording employee's paid hours of work.

Walker said in a follow-up interview the measure would actually save the corporation money. He said without the improved software a parttime payroll clerk would have to be hired to provide the necessary documentation.

Brad Burton and Dick Bradshaw were appointed to the Common Construction Wage Committee for the elementary schools renovation project.

Walker was granted permission to move $1,265,000 from the sale of bonds for the elementary schools project to a budget line item with an additional appropriation.

High school physical education teacher Jamie Sailors was approved to serve as the head football coach. Walker said Sailors taught and coached at both the collegiate and high school levels in the past.

High school art classes will visit Chicago museums and art galleries April 6. Chartered buses will provide transportation.

Delphi Varsity Baseball team will attend a game at Alexandria High School. The team will leave March 27 and return the following day.

High school social studies teacher Joe Seurynck's retirement effective at the end of the current school year was accepted. Seurynck will have taught 38 years in the corporation.

The resignation of head custodian at the Camden Early Childhood Center Robert Smith, effective March 20, was accepted.

Non-certified staff

Employment of non-certified staff included: • Barbara Alderman - elementary nine-month custodian; • Marty Reef - elementary third grade instructional assistant; • Sara Fritz and Kristen Kochert - elementary halftime second grade aides; • Deirdre McClain - special needs bus driver aide; • Joyce Lawton - girls tennis head coach; • Scott Gear - girls tennis assistant coach; • Gayle Connor and Phil Austin - girls tennis volunteer coaches; • Patrick Lowery - head baseball coach; • Dave Gilbert, Mike Lowery, Kyle Robertson, Brodie Brooks and Andy Daub - assistant baseball coaches; • Steve Conway - volunteer baseball coach; • John Gasser - head track coach; • Arrika Ruemler, Jamie Houser and Chip Dale - assistant track coaches; • Scott Kittrell - volunteer track coaches; • Dan LePage - eighth-grade boys track coach; • Dan Frost - seventh-grade boys track coach; • Karen Hanni - middle school girls track coach; • Rob Roth - head golf coach; • Brandon Pitty, Scott Collins, and Jeff Delaney - volunteer golf coaches; • Randy German - head softball coach; • Jeff Bieghler and Lisa Cook - assistant softball coaches; and • Jim Arion, Robb Huff, Hillary Dale and Ashley Brodar - volunteer softball coaches.

The next meeting will be April 13 at 7 p.m.