Board asks district to review book‑fair vendors and media‑center resourcing after procurement concerns
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Summary
Board members raised concerns about Scholastic book‑fair materials and asked staff to review vendor options, compliance with state rules and media-center funding; staff said principals and media specialists will ensure materials meet policy and that alternatives will be evaluated.
Board members asked the superintendent to review the district’s approach to school book fairs after recent national scrutiny of one major vendor and to confirm how media-center materials are overseen.
Why it matters: book fairs and media centers are a primary way students access books and library resources; parents and board members want clarity that materials comply with district policy and applicable law and that there are vendor alternatives if needed.
Board members noted national reporting about Scholastic’s earlier decisions and subsequent reversals and expressed concern that book-fair content be “Florida‑friendly” and compatible with recent state guidance about parent access and objections. One board member suggested an alternative vendor (Skytree Book Fairs) as a potential replacement and asked staff to evaluate options.
Staff said principals and school media specialists will vet fair inventories and ensure parental notification and opt‑out processes are in place; the district will review vendor contracts and be prepared to adopt alternatives if necessary. District staff also noted that categorical funding that used to be dedicated to media centers has been rolled into the general fund; principals now draw on discretionary budgets for media purchases.
No formal change to policy or contracts was made at the workshop; staff agreed to review vendor alternatives, confirm notification and opt‑out procedures and report back to the board.