Blount County board adopts revised library materials policy after heated public comment, removes teacher-signature requirement

The Blount County Board of Education approved revisions to its library materials policy on a motion that included a roll-call amendment removing language that would have required classroom teachers to attest that their classroom libraries complied "to the best of my knowledge" with board policy and state law.

The vote came after public comment from parents, librarians and community members who urged the board either to table the changes for more review or to keep the revised definitions while removing the signature/accountability language they said was premature.

The policy revision package was presented to the board after a library task-force subcommittee and a policy advisory council reviewed recommended language and material definitions, including guidance the board received from the Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA). Board members said the revised definitions were intended to clarify terms such as "obscenity" and "excessive…