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Resident urges caution over NEA 'safe space' materials; library staff says phrase serves different purpose locally
Summary
A community member claimed in public comment that a teacher badge linked to NEA content promoted graphic sexual materials; the Orange Library teen librarian responded, saying the library's use of "safe space" is to connect youth with social services and not the same usage alleged in the remark.
A Moreland Hills resident raised a public comment at the Sept. 27 Orange City School District Board meeting alleging that a QR-enabled "safe space" badge distributed in another district linked to materials he described as sexually explicit. The resident said he researched the incident and urged the board to ensure similar materials were not in Orange City classrooms.
The resident, who gave his address for the record, described the Hilliard City Schools episode and said the QR code linked to an NEA‑supported LGBTQ caucus page; he said the linked materials were explicit and questioned the local union's and NEA's involvement. The board did not take action on the allegation; the comment was part of the public participation portion of the meeting and no board policy change was proposed at that time.
Mary Slater, the teen librarian at the Orange Library, responded from the audience when offered an opportunity to speak. Slater said the library's designation as a "safe space" is operational: staff will help youth connect with the social worker, provide a bus pass or help find immediate supports. "When we say safe space at the library, it means if youth were to come in and say they needed a safe space ... we would get them in contact with the social worker or get them a bus pass or help them with find some place to stay overnight," Slater said, urging that the term not be conflated with other usages.
Board chair and staff reminded the public that the meeting is for conducting the school district's business and that board members generally do not respond to public‑comment questions outside of procedural clarifications. The board did not announce any formal inquiry or policy action stemming from the comments during the meeting.
