South San Antonio ISD establishes local school library advisory council and adopts new library-materials policy

The South San Antonio ISD Board of Managers on Wednesday approved a resolution to establish a local school library advisory council and adopted a new board policy governing library materials.

Rita Ureste, the district's executive director of human resources, said the action implements requirements from the recent legislative session and will govern how the district adds or removes materials from school libraries. "This resolution outlines the district's procedures and process to establish a school library advisory council to consider recommendations ... before adding library materials to school library catalog, removing materials ... or making changes to policies or guidelines related to the school library catalog," Ureste said.

The board approved the resolution and the accompanying policy by roll call vote with all trustees voting yes. The resolution requires the council to consist of at least five members appointed by the board, with each trustee appointing an equal number of members; a majority of voting members must be parents of students enrolled in the district; and the council must meet at least twice each year.

The new board policy, EFB Local, sets standards for collection development, selection and evaluation of library materials, procedures for donated materials, a parental access plan and a process for formal challenges to materials. Ureste and board members emphasized the council is advisory: the SLAC will make recommendations regarding library catalog additions and removals and advise on related policies. Nonvoting participants may include classroom teachers, librarians, counselors and administrators.

Trustees asked procedural questions about outreach and timelines; Ureste said the district will solicit interest from parents and campus staff, likely by survey, and must establish the council quickly so it can address library materials before the school year begins. The presentation and policy materials referenced Senate Bill 13 as the legislative authority cited by staff.

The board passed both the resolution and the new policy in separate roll-call votes; the motion for each carried unanimously.

The SLAC and EFB Local policy will be added to district procedures and staff said they will publish guidance for parents and campus leaders on membership, meeting schedules and the formal challenge process.