Public commenters raise concerns about Gaither High discipline, NAACP facility safety and potentially explicit book copies in elementary libraries

Multiple public commenters used the Hillsborough County School Board's March 11 public-comment period to raise concerns about school discipline procedures, facility use and library materials.

Discipline and school communication: Alan Brewster described a disciplinary incident at Gaither High School involving his son and questioned inconsistent application of discipline and the school's communication with parents. Brewster said his son was removed from a team, then returned to class after an assistant principal's review; he said a teacher's notice of in-school suspension lacked documentation. Tina Williams Brewster, speaking after him, urged improvements to communication and said parents repeatedly report breakdowns in communication at multiple schools.

Facility use and insurance concerns: John Green and Bishop Michelle B. Patty raised concerns involving the NAACP and the Gary Adult School campus. Green said a public-record request showed an insurance lapse and suggested violations of a sublease; Bishop Patty read a media release from the NAACP Florida State Conference concerning a separate incident in Fort Lauderdale and urged caution about continuing certain leases or amendments without proper oversight. Commenters asked whether organizations using district property were properly insured and whether the district had acted on prior warnings.

Library material complaint: Julie Gepard read passages from the novel American Psycho and told the board she found copies in nine elementary schools (the speaker named school sites). Gepard said the book contains explicit and graphic sexual violence and argued it did not belong in elementary-school collections; she said the board and superintendent have the authority to remove inappropriate materials from school libraries. Several board members asked staff to verify the district catalog and investigate whether an error in the online records placed the title in elementary listings.

Why it matters: The comments raised questions about how the district enforces disciplinary policy and communicates with parents, how it manages facilities and third-party use of district property, and how library-selection processes place books in age-appropriate collections. Board members asked staff to verify details and return with clarifications.

Board direction and response: The board asked staff to check public records and inventory listings. Chair Jessica Vaughn and Superintendent Ayers said they would follow up; board members emphasized timely access to information when parents raise concerns.

Direct quotes: "There needs to be a change at Gaither High School," Alan Brewster said. Bishop Michelle B. Patty said, "The safety and security of our members, volunteers and staff must be a top priority." Julie Gepard said passages from American Psycho were "horrible" and said the book's presence in elementary library listings "is getting worse."