Rochester school board authorizes superintendent to report challenge over elementary‑age library book

The Rochester Public School Board on Jan. 7 authorized Superintendent Kent Pickell to submit a report to the Minnesota Department of Education on his decision to remove a copy of The Rainbow Parade (author not specified in the agenda packet) from the open shelves of elementary school media centers.

The vote followed roughly an hour of discussion by board members about the district policy governing library challenges, the book's illustrations and whether the removal sets a precedent. Director Karen McLaughlin, who asked that the item be pulled from the consent agenda for discussion, said she was "concerned ... this is a very slippery slope" and urged greater transparency in how the district handles future challenges.

Nut graf: The board's action does not ban the title across the district; the resolution authorizes the superintendent to file the report required under Policy 606.5 after he concluded the book's placement on open elementary shelves was inappropriate because of visual content and the unsupervised way young children encounter…