Parents and residents press Sheridan County School District #2 to remove books they call obscene

Several residents used the board’s public comment period to urge Sheridan County School District #2 trustees to remove books they contend are obscene from the Sheridan High School library and to adopt clearer review procedures.

Anna Bailey told trustees she has followed library holdings and said a weekend inventory found about 30 previously identified titles still available. She said those books include “graphic violence, explicit sexual encounters, drug and alcohol abuse” and urged “age-appropriate boundaries.” Robin Hoffman said the four books she recently challenged ‘‘fail all three prongs of the Miller test’’ (the Supreme Court standard for obscenity) and asked the board to remove them to show local action rather than waiting for state directives.

Sam Hoffman, speaking after Robin Hoffman, said the material he and his wife reviewed was “explicit” and “sewage,” and distributed excerpts he asked trustees to read before making decisions. Eric Jorgensen and other commenters called for the board to distinguish between adult content and educational material and to maintain libraries as places of learning.

Trustees accepted the public comments and later directed staff to place related policies (IJL and IJLP — the district's collection challenge and review policies) into the revision process so the board can clarify timelines and procedural language used in those policies. During the meeting, trustees noted there are inconsistencies between IJL and IJLP in how and when parents and guardians receive written responses and recommended harmonizing timelines (some language currently references 45 school days for board response).

Board members and speakers emphasized that the process should preserve due process for challenges: written reviews, an opportunity for parent/guardian input and clear timelines. Trustee Tomlinson specifically urged consistent calendar definitions (school days versus calendar days) across policies. Trustees voted to move IJL and IJLP into revision, beginning the formal review process.

The board did not take immediate action to remove any specific titles during the meeting. Trustees instructed staff to return with clarified procedures and to ensure the district's response language aligns to state statute and the board's expectations.