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Residents urge St. Francis Area Schools to rescind book ban and restore library access
Summary
Dozens of residents told the St. Francis Area Schools board on May 12 that the district's book-review policy and recent removals violate state rules, limit student access and harm community trust. Commenters pushed the board to rescind policy 606/606.5 and to rely on educators and librarians for selections.
Dozens of community members told the St. Francis Area Schools Board of Education on May 12 that the district’s review and removal of library books under policy 606 (identified by speakers as policy 606.5) is unlawful and harmful to students.
Speakers at the meeting’s public-comment period — which the board limited to two minutes per person — framed the removals as censorship that reduces students’ access to diverse perspectives. “These are not harmful books, they're important ones,” said Nikki Cruzdie, who said she had read many titles removed under the policy. June Anderson told the board, “You are breaking the law,” and cited the district’s handling of the review process. Laura Magnuson urged the board to “Please rescind policy 606.5 and stop this censorship.”
The comments echoed a…
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