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CSISD superintendent withdraws proposal to form school library advisory committee; parents urge limiting committee role
Summary
After public comment urging librarians’ authority and caution about forming a SLAC, CSISD administration withdrew a proposed resolution to establish a School Library Advisory Committee and said the board will consider options at the Aug. 19 meeting.
College Station ISD officials on Aug. 7 told the school board they will not vote that day on a resolution to form a School Library Advisory Committee (SLAC) tied to Senate Bill 13, and administrators said they will present two options for board consideration at the Aug. 19 meeting.
The superintendent’s presenter, Miss Hester, told trustees she had initially placed a resolution to form a SLAC on the agenda but, after meetings with librarians and outside counsel and feedback from other districts, she pulled it back to allow more time for review. “I am taking that off the table. I don’t want that voted on,” Hester said, and said the district would present two options (one that establishes a SLAC and one that does not) before the Sept. 1 statutory deadline.
Several parents and community members spoke during the hearing of citizens to oppose preemptive formation of a SLAC or to urge that any committee be strictly advisory. Ryan Beasley told the board he trusts school librarians to lead collection development and reconsideration processes under board oversight. Lisa Martinez, who identified herself as a CSISD parent and resident, asked the board to “consider both legally compliant options for implementing SB 13,” and urged the board not to adopt a resolution that would remove options from parents.
“I request that you do not establish a SLAC unless it’s required,” Ryan Beasley said during public comment, adding that librarians should continue to manage collections with parental input and board oversight. Children’s‑book author Natalia Goldberg similarly urged the board to avoid processes that could slow librarians’ acquisition of books children want to read.
Hester and other administrators explained two practical consequences of the new state law: the board must vote on book purchases, removals or classroom additions, and if 50 parents or 10% of the district (whichever is fewer) petition for a SLAC, the district must form one; once formed, a SLAC must continue for three years. Hester said librarians favor option 1 (no SLAC) and that the district’s library software (Follett/Destiny) gives parents more visibility into checked‑out materials.
Board members discussed community feedback and legislative timing. Several trustees and administrators emphasized that even if a SLAC is formed, the committee would be advisory and would not replace librarians’ professional judgment; the board can accept or reject SLAC recommendations. Hester said the district will return to the board with an item on Aug. 19 for formal action.
Ending: The board did not act on a SLAC resolution Aug. 7; the district will bring policy options back for consideration on Aug. 19 before a Sept. 1 implementation date required by state law.
