Superintendent lifts parental-permission restriction on children’s book after board debate and public outcry

Superintendent Dr. Ross removed an administrative restriction placed on the children’s book I Am Billie Jean King, saying he would “rescind the parent permission requirement effective immediately.” The book had been placed in the district’s Destiny library system with a note that parents should be involved if a child requested it.

The decision and the reversal followed an extended discussion at the Lexington-Richland School District Five board meeting and more than a dozen public speakers who said removal or special permission for the book amounted to viewpoint discrimination. Several speakers urged the district to restore the title to classroom and school library shelves without additional conditions.

Dr. Ross told the board he had reviewed the book under board policy IJL, which he said gives administrators three review criteria: age and developmental appropriateness, educational suitability and alignment with state instructional programs. He described the specific concern as “romantic feelings” raised by a young child and said administrators judged those questions better handled by parents for children in the book’s recommended age range. Dr. Ross said the book is written at a “first grade 7 month level” and is recommended for ages 5 to 9.

Public speakers pushed back. Annie Mahaffey of Midlands Apple said removal “because it communicates [Billie Jean King’s] sexual orientation is blatant viewpoint discrimination.” Catherine Brookins, a former district teacher and parent, said removing the title because it includes a gay character “is implying that being gay is wrong and shameful,” and urged the board to return the book to shelves. Several other speakers — including David Jenkins, Daniel Grama, Rangna Floyd, Matt Eisenhower and PJ Thomas — said banning or restricting books increases division and harms students who need to see themselves in texts.

Board members debated the interplay of two district policies adopted last October. Board policy KEC establishes a parent-initiated complaint process and a review timeline; IJL covers library and instructional materials criteria. Several trustees said the two policies appear to conflict when applied to self-selected library books, and some urged the board to return the complaint process and the library policy to committee for clarification.

Trustee Miss Scully attempted to move that the board direct the superintendent to lift the restriction immediately, but the motion was withdrawn after questions about FOIA and whether the item was on the published agenda. Dr. Ross then announced he would remove the parental-permission requirement on his own authority, explaining the administrative pathway under IJL had been used but that the policy also provides for parent complaints. He said FERPA considerations prevented him from fully describing the administrative review.

Dr. Ross emphasized that the book has not been removed from the Destiny system and that it remains available to students; the extra note had required parental involvement for check out. He said 16 district titles about Billie Jean King are included in the system and reiterated that his original intent was to prompt family conversations about romantic feelings for very young children.

The board did not take a formal vote to restore the book; rather, Dr. Ross’s administrative rescission of the parental-permission requirement took effect immediately, and trustees asked staff to bring policy clarifications on KEC and IJL back to a future meeting.

The discussion drew extensive public participation and several requests that the board align district procedures to state standards for age-appropriateness and review. Speakers referenced state regulation 43-170 and the 1988 Comprehensive Health Education Act in arguing about the proper legal standard for library review; administrators said IJL is the applicable local policy for the library pathway.