B-H BOARD HEARS MORE ABOUT EBOOK PLATFORM

    Monday night at the Britton-Hecla School Board meeting discussion continued about Sora, the online platform the district uses for ebooks and audiobooks. The service has been brought up at the last few meetings, but a lengthy discussion again ensued with several members of the public commenting on it as well as school staff.
    Community member Dan Tracy, a former educator, voiced concerns about the Sora platform. After reviewing its content, Tracy described some materials as “nothing short of pornographic” and urged the school to re-examine the platform for the benefit of students’ mental, social, and overall well-being. Jeanne Ahlgren, who had previously initiated a petition regarding Sora, echoed similar concerns. She criticized the platform’s inadequate filtering system, claiming it contains pornographic and sexually explicit material. Ahlgren suggested the school implement a yearly consent form with full disclosure about the service.
    Later in the meeting, during the agenda discussion on Sora, board member Audrey Schuller raised additional points. She inquired about steps being taken to review materials beyond those flagged by the public and read excerpts from books she deemed inappropriate, noting that the platform’s filter failed to block them. Schuller suggested exploring alternative sources for online materials or suggested that students could use public library resources outside of school. 
    Tawna Patterson, a parent of district students, shared her perspective. While she acknowledged that some materials sparked meaningful conversations with her children, she expressed concern that by the time her kids encountered certain content, it was too late to intervene.
    Network administrator and teacher Stacy Bennett provided a live demonstration of the Sora platform, showing how it is organized by grade level. She explained that elementary and middle school students are restricted from accessing certain materials. Bennett questioned having to block specific books including those addressing topics such as friendship and sex slavery.
    Teacher Paula Hanson discussed how her students use the platform including using the ebooks. She also uses read out loud features and noted that students who struggle to read and have disabilities like dyslexia benefit from the platform greatly. Language Arts teacher Jenna Peters added that though some of the things brought up sound scary, she is hesitant to take away a service that helps reluctant readers enjoy reading. 
    Teacher Jennifer Boyko echoed that sentiment. She explained that she worries that a sense of fear is being created that is not justified given what is really happening in the school. “We have the same care and interest in your children as you do,” she stated. She added that she would be disappointed if the service goes away as she feels it is very beneficial. 
    Board member Heather Landreth took exception with some speakers attempts to scare people with what seems like eyebrow raising content. She added that the school librarian had noted that over 400 books were checked out during winter break and taking away Sora would be detrimental to those readers. She also implored community members to provide feedback and support regarding the situation rather than feed rumors outside the district.  Board member Kurt Zuehlke added that he has trust in the teachers and administrators and the steps they are taking to keep students safe. 
    Though Superintendent Steve Benson was sick and unable to attend the meeting, he did provide a statement responding to requests to remove Sora as a resource. 
    Landreth read the response. In it, Benson said, “The Britton-Hecla School District upholds Policy 6032, Selection and Review of Library Media, which is available on our website. This policy outlines our procedures for limiting access in accordance with SDCL 22-24-55 and allows patrons to submit a written request for review using the provided form.”
    Benson went on: “I recommend maintaining the availability of the Sora Platform for our staff and students. The vast  majority of materials on Sora are suitable for the intended age groups, making it a valuable resource. The platform is cost-effective and offers materials for all age groups, a feature that many alternatives lack. Additionally, Sora allows us to level materials and restrict access based on age ranges.”
    Noting the benefits of the service, Benson also pointed out the following: the Sora platform is a versatile and cost-effective eBook and audiobook solution designed for grades K-12. It offers a wide range of materials catering to various interests and reading levels, featuring a user-friendly interface that encourages exploration. With accessibility features like adjustable text size, a dyslexic-friendly font, and read-aloud options, Sora ensures inclusivity for students with diverse needs. Additionally, its digital format eliminates the need for physical storage, making it a budget-friendly resource for schools.
    Benson ended, noting “If a parent or guardian prefers their child not to access the platform, the district will provide a form for them to sign. Upon submission, we will remove the child’s access to Sora on any school-owned device. Literacy is a key focus in our state. Offering students a wide range of engaging reading options is crucial for improving literacy. The Sora Platform supports this goal by encouraging students to read and fostering a love for reading.”
    Ultimately, Schuller motioned for the board to approve a one-month pause on Sora to further examine the platform. Her motion died for a lack of second. She asked for further clarification in the future how parents would be made aware of the Sora “opt-out” option. 
    See the story below for other business from Monday’s board meeting.