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 media‑center materials.

Board members described three strands of concern that shaped their remarks: the factual and legal record cited by the superintendent; the judgment about what is developmentally appropriate for elementary students encountering an unsupervised media‑center shelf; and whether the board's recently adopted policy on challenged materials provides enough transparency or should be revised.

"I view that as semi transparent," Director McLaughlin said of the new policy, noting she had reviewed the recent court decisions cited by staff and that a Minnesota Court of Appeals decision referenced by staff had been appealed to the Minnesota Supreme Court. She told colleagues the absence of consensus in the appellate opinion made the law unsettled on related questions.

Pickell framed his decision around developmental context and the setting in which a first grader might encounter the book. According to his remarks, "This book is about the depiction of ******. And for people who are not clear what this ****** is, it is the depiction of what is appeared to be female breasts in the front and a female backside. ... We're talking about 5 year olds and kindergartners here." He said his judgment was limited to open‑shelf access in elementary media centers and that he supported preserving resources that affirm LGBTQ students and families in other settings.

Other board members stressed different points. Director Justin Cook said removal decisions are fraught: "Generally speaking, I think it's dangerous to start removing books or banning them." Director Don Barlow urged the district to follow media‑specialist expertise and suggested procedural changes that would put potentially controversial board actions on the regular agenda rather than the consent agenda to improve transparency.

School staff submitted multiple documents that board members referenced: a memorandum from the superintendent explaining his decision, a nine‑to‑one recommendation from an elementary media‑center review committee to keep the title, a statement from the Franklin Montessori licensed media specialist, and a letter from Rochester Public Library staff noting similar depictions appear in established children’s literature.

The resolution the board approved — amended during discussion to specify the title as The Rainbow Parade by Emily Nielsen so it would be unambiguous — reads in part that the board "does hereby authorize the superintendent to submit a report on the challenge to the book The Rainbow Parade by Emily Nielsen ... and the superintendent's decision to remove the book from the shelves of elementary school media centers in RPS to the Minnesota Department of Education." The motion was moved and seconded and passed with the board voting "aye."

Ending: Board members asked staff to consider potential policy or procedure revisions to increase transparency about when challenges come to the board and how they are placed on the agenda. Several directors also urged central office and media specialists to explore alternative ways to make materials available to families and teachers when appropriate (for example, by request or in guided classroom settings).