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Board upholds district decision to keep children’s book in libraries after parent grievance; hearing ends 4–1
Summary
After a level‑3 grievance hearing, the Lubbock ISD board denied a parent's request to remove the book Bathe the Cat from district libraries, upholding the administration's level‑2 decision by a 4–1 vote.
The Lubbock Independent School District board denied a parent's grievance and upheld the district's level‑2 decision to retain the book Bathe the Cat in school libraries following a level‑3 public hearing. The board's vote to deny the grievance was 4–1.
Parent Lloyd Zuniga appealed after he said his child checked out a library book that contained an illustration he described as two men holding hands while holding a baby. Zuniga told the board he found the image inappropriate for elementary students and that he was concerned the book had been read aloud to classes without his knowledge. He described his request as an attempt to protect students and asked trustees to remove the title from Lubbock ISD libraries.
Brian Ellison, who served as the level‑2 hearing officer and represented the district during the level‑3 proceeding, reviewed district policy, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission selection guidance, and applicable provisions of district policy (EFB local and FNG local). Ellison said the district's reconsideration committee — composed of parents, librarians, employees and teachers — read the book in full, met, and voted 6–5 to retain the book. He said the committee and his review found the book did not meet the legal standard for removal (that it be pervasively vulgar or educationally unsuitable) and recommended upholding the committee's decision.
At the public hearing, trustees asked clarifying questions about the reconsideration process and whether parents can set preferences limiting materials for their children. District staff reiterated that parents may work with campus librarians to identify topics or lists they do not want their children to check out and that materials cannot be removed solely because the district disagrees with the ideas they contain.
After hearing testimony and public comment, the board deliberated in open session. Trustees described the case as difficult because the reconsideration committee vote was split and because district policy places strict procedural requirements on challenges to library materials. A motion to deny the grievance and uphold the level‑2 decision carried 4–1.
The board president noted the district record includes the committee report and the level‑2 decision, and the hearing concluded with the board's formal decision recorded in open session. Trustee Chavez recused herself from participating in the hearing.
