Whittier : Parent Complaints Prompt Board to Buy More Texts

Board members for the East Whittier City School District have voted to purchase up to $80,000 worth of textbooks in response to parent complaints.

More than 20 parents attended Monday’s meeting to complain about the lack of social studies textbooks for middle school students. Students in those classes cannot take books home because there is not a copy for each student.

“I’d rather (use) old books that can be brought home than new ones that can’t come home and get halfway read,” parent Nancy Langley said. She complained that her daughter’s class was on page 13 of the textbook after six weeks of school.

Officials said the textbook shortage occurred when the board and individual schools decided to use supply money to purchase other materials, such as films and newspaper subscriptions. This year the district adopted a new curriculum that placed less emphasis on textbooks, Assistant Supt. Ron Oliver said.

The board approved buying more textbooks when officials said there was still grant money available for that purpose. “I don’t want to abandon the new (teaching) strategies,” board member Susan Hunter Eiden said, “but I also want to have textbooks to take home for students and parents who feel the need for them.”