[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6084346,"mediaKeyId","2917080-aa54ab72dfb363b6bc61c3a2a0acd1a5","parentId",2917080,"title","Parents, GOP leaders press Catoosa County board to review classroom books; superintendent cites state complaint process","audioSeconds",2674,"startMs",740000,"endMs",3414000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2917080-aa54ab72dfb363b6bc61c3a2a0acd1a5&start=740&end=3414","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2917080-aa54ab72dfb363b6bc61c3a2a0acd1a5/thumbnail_740000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6084346/Georgia/Parents-GOP-leaders-press-Catoosa-County-board-to-review-classroom-books-superintendent-cites-state-complaint-process","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6084346-08b34a35c5391dbcb00a52b2a1b4bb0c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445500&Signature=NEQ-Cm726NcepQ9JLwLcTLgwxNoD62AWA1Q~G8tknLskeIxqwwXE~yiUj44FYnlKe06ElgC5XnjnwVrJt12XLAVS8gS2zyjXhD9ADkRLgAFFYc2KLUi2mcWILvwESZiFLScWIWAdg9lDdnZtxKiZo7cJQ3R3cXKp7nq3C3IMn98GXoAElvCNKXw0Abnjn8gXPKjUOdmKgSG0gidUDaS~TcF9WnYDmpojg3F3AeN4PhyGxD4X2drTp~XuUCHzpisnC4LzkH1PE7NlvOWcLeTlIdBlNWK0QFYZ13UHzG9lm5QMzFNv-dNtJojQVXS0vDXDN-K0EPmXBUZjBbSbei7eKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-09T00:36:24Z","article","Residents and local Republican Party officials urged the Catoosa County Board of Education to review dozens of books they said are inappropriate for students, reading long excerpts at the board’s public participation period and urging the board to remove the titles from classrooms.

The push came during public comment at a board meeting where multiple speakers named specific books, including The Fault in Our Stars, Paper Towns and The Hate You Give, and read lengthy excerpts they said demonstrate sexual content, profanity and racism. Joanna Hildreth, chair of the Catoosa County Republican Party, handed board members a copy of a resolution condemning those materials and urged partisan elections for the school board.

Why it matters: Speakers said classroom exposure to the material harms children and that community members should be allowed to review library and classroom holdings. Board and district officials responded that Georgia law sets a specific parental-review path that must be triggered by a parent complaint and that principals and a review committee handle initial challenges.

At the meeting Christine Lawson, identified in her remarks as a resident of District 4, said a teacher’s petition had “brought to light some books being made available to students in the Catoosa County Schools” and provided the board with screenshots dated 08/08/2023 and 08/14/2024 showing titles she said contained “sexual content, racism, violence, foul language, and DEI.” She also noted that some citizens who raised concerns reported receiving cease-and-desist letters.

Superintendent Nix described the formal process under state law. “The principal will, with the committee, review that book. If that book is determined to be inappropriate, they remove the book. It’s that simple,” he said. Nix added that if a book is retained, “by law, [we] must publish the title on the district website for a year,” and that a parent may then appeal to the board. He told the speakers the district had not received any parent-initiated complaints that would have triggered the formal review since the law passed in 2022.

Board members and other officials repeatedly asked speakers to use the established process rather than read extended excerpts at the meeting. One board member said the law and the district’s website mechanisms exist specifically because the board cannot inspect every classroom and media center directly.

Speakers asked for additional transparency, including the ability for parents and community members to inspect library and classroom holdings and to be allowed into school libraries and classrooms to verify whether the titles are present. William Beals, who said his child is hospitalized, asked that community members be allowed to “come into the libraries, to come into the school rooms” to review holdings when the district says it will remove books.

The board did not take a formal vote on book removals or adopt any immediate policy changes at the meeting. Board members moved on to recognitions after public participation and asked citizens who wished to press a review to file complaints with principals so the statutory procedure can begin.

Looking ahead: Several speakers indicated they plan to file complaints with principals to trigger the review process; the superintendent said principals, the local review committee and the board are the next steps after a parent complaint is filed. The board said it will follow the process outlined in state law and publish any titles retained after that review on the district website for the required one-year period.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","April 8, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Residents and local Republican Party officials urged the Catoosa County Board of Education to review dozens of books they said are inappropriate for students, reading long excerpts at the board’s public participation period and urging the board to remove the titles from classrooms.","taxTitle","Catoosa County, School Districts, Georgia","taxId",57681,"location","Georgia","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6084337,"District auditor outlines audit steps, flags ESSER wind-down and dipping fund balances",418,5794000,6212000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2917080-aa54ab72dfb363b6bc61c3a2a0acd1a5&start=5794&end=6212","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2917080-aa54ab72dfb363b6bc61c3a2a0acd1a5/thumbnail_5794000.jpg","/articles/6084337/Georgia/District-auditor-outlines-audit-steps-flags-ESSER-wind-down-and-dipping-fund-balances","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6084337-c65a42be6f453c019e3cedf85cf031fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445500&Signature=hwn4H0~-HQHzbOh4EPqthMcmIaMC6QwBg6zUzCJLk3PpcjPFWweYcz4BMDH5-ouAtkt1sqYusXsqR88n75BDnJZsiAfnF3Y3o8wXTq2ruI5VHVQ3poxsQtiOFGW9El-79Rb8E5A3Zjv435P97cSdRUNC0hd4x8mvpe0LSLTJINuRXjozX3RCULb~lPZ4kK5BNkxFu03ul9EipMS4~XfPL4CESq~o-sikZPWhutnSC96Mj3G~cruvL0R0ppZfD0tL~qmmts1oLaiI8FfqTxlY2yJw-q6MWLQ~BpKFWnDzD5gBoDZKlCWqtqa-f8nT7JVPlr-atDbPDzgfuDGbE2kwEg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The board received an overview of the district’s financial audit process and a high-level assessment of areas auditors will monitor this year, including carryover effects from federal ESSER funding and changes in fund balances.

The auditor described standard audit phases — risk assessment, field work and reporting — and stressed that management is responsible for preparing financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The presenter said auditors must “maintain independence” and obtain “reasonable assurance” about the financial statements and related internal controls.

The auditor flagged two issues auditors are watching across Georgia as ESSER federal pandemic funds wind down: maintenance of effort (districts must not replace local spending with federal funds) and reductions in both total fund balance and unassigned fund balance. The presenter said trends show some districts drawing down reserves as ESSER support ends and urged maintaining financial stability.

The auditor also said the district’s risk assessment will adjust year to year depending on activity (for example, capital projects) and that the audit team reviews prior audits, policies and interviews key personnel. The presenter noted that management may choose whether to correct immaterial misstatements the audit finds.

Separately, district staff noted an education-curriculum item: the district adopted a 6–12 ELA curriculum last year, and staff said 6–12 teachers would like to reevaluate that adoption after further review. Staff also reported a $5,000 Georgia Power grant supporting a district program.

No formal financial decisions or votes were taken at the meeting; the presentation was informational and the auditor said the final opinion and any required adjustments will be presented after field work is complete.

Ending: Board members heard an overview of the audit timetable and the auditor’s early observations; district staff and auditors recommended vigilance as ESSER funding ends and fund balances normalize.","External auditors described the district audit process, told the board they must assess internal controls and compliance, and flagged two statewide concerns: maintenance-of-effort tests as ESSER funds end, and a noted decline in total and unassigned fund balances.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6084341,"Catoosa County schools honor Golden Apple winners and showcase cybersecurity students who built computers for 911 center",93,3639000,3732000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2917080-aa54ab72dfb363b6bc61c3a2a0acd1a5&start=3639&end=3732","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2917080-aa54ab72dfb363b6bc61c3a2a0acd1a5/thumbnail_3639000.jpg","/articles/6084341/Georgia/Catoosa-County-schools-honor-Golden-Apple-winners-and-showcase-cybersecurity-students-who-built-computers-for-911-center","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6084341-bbf3109fad00b1f926f214ace740e919/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445500&Signature=erHjnqJHS-dBVa7KBzo6hpHyRaeDxZqL4-pPVhapdvPNqBaK7TOvfM39-s96Zpm0rLSUg-sVJ12cTQOkeXSxVLj5~-w169fBxPmpInLCd2Uz30Z140Z9Wfcv09d0oVpLs-k3K7kQ6uuxVG5lo5nnaFc3hGMYllsyrDwFLtdWf-fNqjWeI3QbkHu4a9laNjcJjwYi5FQxpqeXNkyH4YbC5ZWcvZKBVEXAhMSSV-bLRGkCa9A9rnpCKbTS3DgPG8nVcOX4Nsm601~kKHYXSSxJcR0dLRAhyGv5Pp-XJFKUBwYNTMA24CS7mnkpNS7ekmPw1ZGIe1l6Qkk6fUFJPFeXlA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Catoosa County Board of Education recognized teachers and students and highlighted a county–school partnership that placed student-built computers into the county 9-1-1 center.

Principal Jennifer Scott and school leaders introduced Golden Apple recipients including Amy Carter, a Heritage Middle School course and drama teacher, and Lindsay White, a fifth-grade teacher at Boynton Elementary. The board presented certificates and praised both teachers for classroom leadership and student support.

The meeting also featured a College and Career Academy (CTAE) presentation. Mark Pierce, principal of the College and Career Academy and CTAE director, said a collaboration between Catoosa County government and the school system gave students real-world experience assembling computers for the 9-1-1 center. “These students did an amazing job for Catoosa County government,” Pierce said, and added that the project taught employable skills.

Scott Jernasky, the county’s IT director, told the board he visited the class while students were assembling the units and said, “they were extremely professional” and the computers are now “up and running in the 9-1-1 center.” Pierce and Jernasky said the partnership will continue and provide ongoing cybersecurity and IT opportunities for students across several high schools.

District leaders also recognized graduates of the Aspiring Leader Academy and the Special Education and compliance teams, and thanked partners who support career-technical education. The board and superintendent praised the real-world impact of CTAE programs and the role of industry partnerships in workforce development.

Looking ahead: District presenters said similar hands-on collaborations will expand, and staff asked the board to accept continued partnerships that place students in industry projects that develop workplace skills.","The board recognized Golden Apple award winners and graduating Aspiring Leader Academy participants, and the College and Career Academy cybersecurity class presented student-built computers now in the county 9-1-1 center. County IT and CTAE leaders described the collaboration and future partnerships.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parents, GOP leaders press Catoosa County board to review classroom books; superintendent cites state complaint process

District auditor outlines audit steps, flags ESSER wind-down and dipping fund balances

Catoosa County schools honor Golden Apple winners and showcase cybersecurity students who built computers for 911 center