Hillsborough school board votes to remove two challenged titles after state guidance

The Hillsborough County School Board voted unanimously Tuesday to make the books Blankets by Craig Thompson and Identical by Ellen Hopkins unavailable in district media centers after receiving a recommendation from Superintendent Carey Ayers and guidance from the state attorney general. The decision followed months of challenges, a district-level review process and lengthy public comment.

The board’s vote came after Superintendent Ayers told the board he had received guidance from the state Department of Education and the attorney general and recommended removal. “It is my recommendation that Blankets by Craig Thompson and Identical by Ellen Hopkins be made unavailable in HCPS media centers,” Ayers said while presenting item C105.

Why it matters: The vote reverses a prior board decision to keep the titles on library shelves and puts the district at the center of a statewide dispute over book review processes, parental rights and the legal standard for sexually explicit material. The attorney general’s letter — referenced by district staff during the meeting — urged immediate removal and a districtwide review of other materials.

Public speakers at the meeting offered sharply divided views. Julie Gebhardz, who has led local challenges, said she had read the books in full and called Identical “utter hopelessness” and “suicidal ideation” in places, arguing the books were inappropriate for minors. “There is no redemption in the story,” Gebhardz said. Other speakers, including parents, teachers and community organizers, urged the board to uphold the layered local review process and to prioritize student access and representation. Equality Florida organizer Ant Avila urged the board to “stand by the decisions that you’ve made in the past” and to resist what he called political pressure from the state.

Board members debated legal uncertainty, process and the wellbeing of students. Some members said statutory guidance from the state and the attorney general left the district little practical choice. Member Leila Rendon, who moved the recommendation, said the attorney general’s guidance and other Florida statutes addressing explicit material supported removal. Member Allison Hahn, who said she had earlier voted to remove the books, explained her concern centers on the degree of graphic content. Several other board members said they were voting reluctantly, citing what they called state pressure and the lack of clear, settled legal precedent.

The legal landscape is unsettled in parallel court proceedings. Board counsel and staff noted a recent federal district court decision — Penguin Random House v. Gibson — had found portions of state statute contested in that case to be overbroad; staff said the state intends to appeal. The superintendent and district counsel told the board they had considered that court ruling when crafting the recommendation but were following the attorney general’s guidance in seeking removal now.

Discussion vs. decision: The board’s action was a formal removal vote rather than a directive to study the matter further. The superintendent told the board he did not have unilateral authority to remove the books after the previous board vote had kept them on shelves; the board’s action superseded that prior decision.

What’s next: The district will make the two titles unavailable in media centers and proceed with any required notifications and recordkeeping. The meeting drew large turnout and extensive public comment. Several speakers and board members said the dispute is likely to continue in state and federal forums.

Speakers quoted in this article are those who spoke at or about the agenda item during the school board meeting and are listed in the article metadata.