Parents and community members press CCSD after Sierra Vista principal shared Moms for Liberty banned-book list; trustees urged to act

Dozens of people used the public-comment period Sept. 11 at the Clark County School District board meeting to criticize an email sent Sept. 4 from Sierra Vista High School principal Jessica Lovell that, speakers said, linked to the Moms for Liberty banned-book list and encouraged administrators to "weed" materials.

Nicole Beier, speaking for a coalition that includes No Racism 1865, told trustees that Lovell’s message was sent “from a position of power and leadership” to her peers and that the linked list targeted books by and about Black and Brown students. “She called on her peers to consult Moms for Liberty’s banned-books list as a resource for what books to, as she stated, ‘weed,’” Beier said. “The list that she embedded … is a hit list of books about brown and black students and other historically disenfranchised groups.”

Several speakers described the message as a violation of district policy and regulation. Anna Binder, who identified herself with disability advocacy and the Nevada Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities, said book challenges "are not about protecting children. They're about erasing their presence and stories" and urged the district to review how challenges are processed for books that feature marginalized students.

Deputy Superintendent Dr. Jesse Welsh — who spoke to the board earlier in the meeting and was cited by public commenters — acknowledged the email in follow-up communications and told at least one correspondent that he agreed the message “missed the mark in many aspects” and that he had been in contact with Lovell.

Other speakers described concrete steps they wanted the board and district to take: require diversity training for Lovell, require public comment before administrators lead peers on library decisions, and consider removal or reassignment of school administrators who bypass the district’s challenge process. Several speakers cited CCSD Regulation 61.50 and policy 61.61 — which set the challenge and library material procedures — and policy 51.39 on equity and diversion in urging accountability.

Speakers opposed to removing materials argued that libraries should offer a wide range of perspectives and that removing titles harms students’ ability to see themselves and to learn about others. “Knowledge is gained from being exposed to and interacting with people of different cultures, religions, races, orientations, and genders,” said Julie Kemp. Student speakers echoed that view; Melody Phoenix, a current student, told the board that bans limit students’ ability to understand peers and “to become more friendly to each other.”

Not all commenters agreed. Stephanie Kinsley, who identified herself as a supporter of Moms for Liberty, argued forcefully that graphic sexual content in some titles is inappropriate for schools and that parents should have influence over library material. Her remarks drew audible reactions in the room during the public-comment period.

Speakers representing professional and civil-rights groups asked the board for a clear statement reaffirming district policy and a process that prevents politically motivated external lists from dictating school library collections. Robin Carpenter, a current CCSD school librarian, reminded trustees that Regulation 6.150 (the district’s library selection regulation) and state law require inclusive and non-discriminatory selection practices. “If a principal or anyone in this district refers to or treats people in marginalized groups or their history or their culture as controversial, what does that say to those students themselves?” Carpenter asked.

The public-comment segment did not produce a formal board action. Multiple speakers said they had contacted trustees and district leadership outside the meeting; speakers asked for a public response and specific accountability steps, and a number said they would return to the board if those steps were not taken.

Trustees did not vote on any personnel actions during the meeting. Deputy Superintendent Welsh’s statement acknowledging the message and that he had contacted Lovell was the only direct district response reported at the meeting.