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Students and parents tell Pine-Richland board books saved lives as critics press for removals
Summary
At the Aug. 25 Pine‑Richland School District board meeting, multiple speakers urged action on books challenged in 2023 and criticized the boardfor perceived inaction and strained relations with teachers; a high‑school student described books as a life-saving resource.
Public commenters at the Pine‑Richland School District board meeting on Aug. 25 urged the board to act on a years‑old set of challenged library titles and criticized trustees for what they said has been a politicized, inconsistent approach to curriculum and library materials.
The remarks came during the meeting's public comment period and included personal testimony from students and parents. Ben Ward, a senior at Pine Richland High School, told the board that books helped him through a period of isolation after he came out: "Books became my lifeline. They spoke to me about losing friends, feeling out of place, about questioning identity, and most importantly, about the strength it takes to be yourself." Ward urged the board against removing titles he said helped him survive.
Speakers made a range of related…
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