Gilbert board on biology textbook redaction: nevermind

• Board president Staci Burk says GPS is likely the first school in the state to discuss this issue.
• Superintendent Christina Kishimoto says she does not believe the biology book violates state law.
• Gilbert Public Schools board agrees not to redact biology book that mentions %22abortion.%22

Although it did not take a formal vote, the Gilbert Public Schools governing board on Tuesday decided school staff does not need to edit biology books that mention abortion after all.

Additional discussion about alternatives to redacting a textbook are expected to be scheduled in early 2015.

Superintendent Christina Kishimoto had asked the board to reverse its October request that the district edit "Campbell Biology: Concepts & Connections (Seventh Edition)," an honors textbook that has a chapter that discusses abstinence, birth-control methods, tubal ligations and vasectomies, and drugs that can induce abortion.

Kishimoto said because the textbooks are copyrighted, editing the books could create legal issues. In addition, a redaction effort would involve thousands of books and a special process that could involve hiring teachers to work over the summer.

A better solution, Kishimoto said, would be to have teachers provide supplemental information to students about childbirth and adoption and not change the books. GPS staff could insert additional material into books if the board desires.

Kishimoto also maintained that she does not think the books violate the law.

Gilbert school officials have mulled changes to the book since August, when they received a letter from Natalie Decker, an attorney for the Scottsdale-based advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom. Decker contends that the Campbell Biology book violates a state law that requires books to discuss adoption as a preferred alternative to abortion.

"The (textbook) law is not limited to books in sex-education classes," Decker told the board in October. "It applies any time a mention of abortion is included in instruction. This is not an ambiguous law."

District officials have also received opinions from the Arizona Department of Education and the Arizona chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Chris Kotterman, an education department deputy associate superintendent for policy development and government relations, said in an e-mail that he reviewed the book at the request of the district and found that it "does not appear on its face to violate the statute."

"In general, the mere mention of a means of medically inducing abortion does not automatically signal a lack of preference for childbirth and adoption ... the responsibility lies with the teacher to provide context for the student."

A letter from Alessandra Soler, executive director of the ACLU of Arizona, urged the board not to change the book. Doing so would violate students' First Amendment rights, she said.

Board members discussed whether adding supplemental materials to the textbook, rather than removing pages or editing them with markers, could solve the problem. They did not vote but reached a consensus to find an alternative.

Kishimoto told the board in a Nov. 18 report that she thought redacting the books would just encourage students to seek the information elsewhere -- without guidance from a teacher.

"My professional opinion is that students should learn about the preference for childbirth and adoption over elective abortion from a teacher-taught lesson, and not from the redaction of the textbook.," she wrote. "The redaction of information will encourage students to seek the information elsewhere without the benefit of a unit of study designed by a teacher.

"Additionally, I want to share with you that in my conversations with teachers there is significant teacher concern that there is a breakdown of trust between the board and teachers ... This perception of mistrust can erode the positive work environment that is the cornerstone of my leadership. Therefore, my request to the Board is to consider turning this matter back to me as the Superintendent to handle as an administrative matter, i.e. curriculum implementation."

At least one other school district — Paradise Valley — and one individual high school — Desert Vista, in the Tempe Union High School district — also use editions of "Campbell Biology" in honors or advanced-placement classes. Officials for those schools say the book has not generated any complaints.

Board President Staci Burk has said that she believes the district is the first in Arizona with plans to edit a book under the law.