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SAISD adopts library materials policy under Senate Bill 13, giving parents primary decision role
Summary
The board adopted EFB(Local), the district's policy to implement Senate Bill 13. The policy requires board approval of library materials, a 30-day public posting before placement, and allows parents to restrict their child's access through circulation records and formal challenges handled by a district committee.
The San Angelo Independent School District board unanimously adopted a local policy to implement Senate Bill 13 on library materials, formalizing procedures for purchases, donations, review and parental access.
Under the policy the board approved Tuesday, all library materials — including donated titles — must be posted publicly for at least 30 days before placement and trustees must ultimately approve materials. Parents are designated as “the primary decision makers” regarding their own child’s access; they may submit lists of titles their child may not check out, and librarians can note those restrictions in circulation software.
Why it matters: Senate Bill 13 changed how school districts handle library content. The new local policy affects how the district accepts donated books, how it schedules purchases, and how it responds to formal challenges.
Procedure and committee role: Superintendent Doctor Gomez and the district’s lead librarian, Miss Hogue, outlined the process: informal concerns can be handled at the campus level, while formal challenges are reviewed by the San Angelo ISD reading content selection committee, a group of educators, staff, parents and community members that will make recommendations to the superintendent and board. Gomez stressed the district’s librarians hold professional certification and training in collection development and that formal complaints require review of entire works, not excerpts.
Operational impacts and timing: Staff told trustees they will publish a timeline for periodic postings to give parents predictable opportunities to review proposed materials. Administration said it will adjust purchasing schedules and interdepartmental procurement timelines to meet the 30‑day notice requirement.
Ending: Trustees voted 7–0 to adopt EFB(Local). Administration said it will publish the first posting schedule and provide parents a link on the district website to the library services and parent access pages.
