Members of FCPS book review committee chosen

Jillian Atelsek, The Frederick News-Post, Md.
·2 min read

Feb. 2—Fifty-nine people will serve on a reconsideration committee for Frederick County Public Schools, which is working to determine whether a set of challenged books will be allowed to remain on library shelves.

The review stems from a complaint by former Board of Education candidate Cindy Rose, who has identified 35 books that she alleges contain inappropriate material.

The committee will meet five times, starting March 2. It will include parents, students, community members and district employees.

FCPS has said the committee meetings will not be open for public observation, but the committee's final report will be made public. The Frederick News-Post filed an Open Meetings Act complaint with a state review board, arguing that members of the public should be able to observe the committee's work.

In a response to the News-Post's complaint, lawyers representing FCPS wrote that the committee did not meet the legal definition of a public body and was not required to hold open meetings.

A state panel's ruling on the matter is expected by mid-February.

The district said 10 students are on the committee, each representing a different high school:

— Eliana Thompson, Brunswick

— Kayla Mathers, Linganore

— Kailee Akee, Catoctin

— Sara Rawley, Middletown

— Brooke Michael, Frederick

— Jacob Burbach, Oakdale

— Karla Burbano, Urbana

— Catherine Grau, Gov. Thomas Johnson

— Boluwatife Adeoye, Tuscarora

— Hannah Koonce, Walkersville

The district did not provide any identifying information for other members of the committee beyond their names:

— Karin Abma

— Phillip Allen

— Brandi Appleby

— Victoria Benson

— Colleen Bernard

— Megan Blakeslee

— Kristine Bols

— Rose Branzel

— Jill Cameron

— Carol Chucoski

— Janice Daffern

— Miriam Depaz

— Mike Dillman

— Cynthia Doggett

— David Fish

— Amy Garlitz

— Amanda Glenn

— Timothy Greer

— Magin LaSov Gregg

— Jennifer Harris

— Brian Heid

— Robin Hodge

— Karen Kapust

— Melanie Maguire

— Jessica McBroom

— Ann Menard

— Denise Migliorini

— Kate Mills

— Sheri Murphy

— Shelley Nasso

— Sue Ann Nogle

— Renate Owen

— Angela Phillips

— Michelle Plumer

— Amanda Portner

— Jennifer Randolph

— Jennifer Reynolds

— Mary Jo Richmond

— Guy Schmidt

— Edward Schoder

— Joanna Sieger

— Kara Smith

— Stacey Steinmetz

— Diana Sung

— Marsha Thompson

— Christina Tongyai

— Cristine Traugott

— Peyton Travis

— Kate Wright

Follow Jillian Atelsek on Twitter: @jillian_atelsek