Both appeals challenging the use of the fairy tale “King & King” in a third-grade class at Efland-Cheeks Elementary School have been dropped, according to the school system.
The public hearing scheduled for Thursday has been canceled.
Omar Currie says he read the book in late April after seeing a bullying problem in his classroom; the fairy tale depicts two princes falling in love and getting married.
Two appeals were filed over the use of the book in the class and, following school board policy, the school-based Media Review Committee reviewed the book challenge. After a public hearing on the challenge, the board issued a ruling in favor of using the book.
The school reviewed two additional objections to the use of the book in early May. Following each review the use of the book was allowed.
The decisions were appealed to the Superintendent’s Office and, again according to board policy, the Superintendent appointed a district review committee.
With the appeals being dropped, the use of the book will continue to be permitted in Orange County Schools.
Orange County Schools Spokesperson Seth Stephens says new policy that has been implemented at Efland Cheeks is a school-specific policy that will require teachers to provide notification to parents of what reading material will be used. He adds parents have always retained the option to object to material being used in the classroom and either hold their children out of class or request alternative material.
Stephens says the former appellants communicated to the school system they wanted to move forward, keep the focus on success in the classroom, and unify the community.
Currie and an Assistant Principal at Efland Cheeks, Meg Goodhand, have resigned their positions at the school in the wake of the review process.
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