KASD Children First PAC

Cecilia Holt, incumbent Democrat running for school board to represent the Kutztown Borough, explains her 'parental rights' perspective as she defends why Gender Queer, which contains graphic images of sexually explicit material, should remain in the library. Holt & Ritter(also running in Maxatawny on the Democrat ticket) believe parents should be burdened with a research project on everything in the library and identify in writing everything that they don't want their child to see. Her defense of the book makes it clear she believes this content is acceptable to be in purchased and made available to students in a tax-payer funded school library. KASD Children First PAC candidates believe that limited shelving(funded by taxpayers!) in our schools should be used to enrich the curriculum- not lost on inappropriate, sexually explicit books and materials. Better standards are required. Excerpt from Jan 18, 2022 School Board Meeting. Full version found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4FhXK4SEEw&t=7482s

Dennis Ritter, incumbent for Maxatawny/Lyons, explains his vote to keep the book Gender Queer in our middle and high school libraries. He admits it contains sexual images that are "problematic," but because those images occur within an autobiography, that somehow makes it ok. He felt that the book has artistic value for students who think they may be non-binary. He also voted against parental consent to read the book, believing students should be able to read it without their parents or guardians knowing about it. Excerpt from Jan 18, 2022 School Board Meeting. Full version found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4FhXK4SEEw&t=7482s

Cooper, a student representative, patiently tries to explain to Dennis Ritter, a Democrat of Maxatawny currently up for re-election, why some people find "this book", with explicit images and descriptions of various sex acts, inappropriate for the limited space on our taxpayer-funded shelves. Ritter's idea of parental rights is to burden parents with a research project on everything in the library and then identify in writing everything that they don't want their child to see (opt-out). Excerpt from May 16, 2022 School Board Meeting. Full version available at : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIgZzeNhh0M&t=6370s

Michelle Batz, from Greenwich/Albany/Lenhartsville, notes that we have existing policies students must abide by that would restrict them from accessing materials with images such as those shown in Gender Queer. Holt notes that the only reason the internet filters are in place is a result of a Federal/FCC E-Rate program, which they could choose to not be a part of and wave the special rates they would receive. In essence, she doesn't think internet filters to protect children from porn are necessary on school devices. Excerpt from May 16, 2022 School Board Meeting. Full version can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIgZzeNhh0M&t=6370s