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Stillwater board adopts new library materials policy after extended public review
Summary
After multiple public readings and public comment, the Stillwater Area Public Schools board adopted Policy 606.5 (Library Materials) and revoked an older library policy. The policy sets a formal review-and-appeal process for library challenges and creates an annually designated pool of review-committee candidates.
The Stillwater Area Public Schools Board of Education on Tuesday adopted a new library materials policy, Policy 606.5, after multiple readings and public comment and revoked an older library policy (Policy 6/25).
The board approved the policy following a third reading that clarified how a review committee will be formed to consider requests to remove library materials. The adopted policy requires the superintendent or a designee to designate potential committee members annually and describes who the superintendent is encouraged—but not strictly required—to invite to each review.
Board members and administration framed the change as filling a state-required gap and formalizing an existing practice. Superintendent Funk said the district’s approach will create a pool of potential committee members at the start of each school year who can be drawn for specific challenges, and that the superintendent (or designee) will appoint members appropriate to the level of the contested material (elementary or secondary). The policy also preserves a written-appeal path: a review committee issues a written report to the superintendent, whose decision is final unless a quorum of the school board requests further review.
The policy received public comment both in favor and in opposition to how library materials are reviewed. Public commenters criticized the proposed media policy revisions before the vote and urged the board to ensure parents can object to materials. Mike McCarthy (public commenter) told the board the proposed media policy “facilitates putting only politically progressive propaganda in the hands of our children,” and urged the board to vote no on the media policy. Catherine Hobbs, a parent, also urged stricter review of “objectionable material” and cited a specific book she said had been available in the high school library.
School staff who worked with the policy in committee said the district’s media specialists already offer families options to restrict particular materials for their children and that the new policy formalizes a review procedure rather than removing those local options. Board members said they wanted the superintendent to return to the policy committee if practical problems emerge during the first year of implementation.
The board also formally revoked Policy 6/25 and recorded the new Policy 606.5 as mandatory. Director Lauer moved approval; the motion was seconded and passed. The board asked administration to produce accompanying procedures so the public and staff can see how reviews will be carried out in practice.
The new policy will be implemented with district procedures and staff training; the board scheduled an informal committee review of the policy’s operation about one year after adoption.
