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Board member objects to several library purchases; board agrees to revisit books next month
Summary
At a Lansing School Board meeting, a board member voted no on the consent agenda citing concerns that several purchased library books violated district policy GBU and Kansas statute 72-2159; the board agreed to return the subject to next month’s agenda and approved the consent agenda 4-3.
A Lansing School Board member recorded a no vote on the consent agenda and asked that the board record the reason, saying a review of the monthly bills showed several library purchases that the member believed violated district policy GBU and Kansas statute 72-2159. The board agreed to pull the topic for fuller discussion next month and approved the consent agenda as amended by a 4-3 vote.
The objection arose during the consent agenda vote, when the board member said some of the books purchased for middle and high school libraries included content they judged inconsistent with district policy and state law. The member cited titles found on the invoices and asked that the record show their vote and reasons. Board members discussed whether the invoices were on the public portion of the packet or on the protected side; one trustee noted some invoices were on the protected side of the monthly bills and suggested improving transparency.
Superintendent and staff said the purchases had been ordered through Follett and were going to middle and high school collections. Trustees asked staff to bring the matter back next month for a fuller discussion and review of processes for vetting and ordering library materials. One board member said they would change their vote to “no” if the board consented to let them do so; the board consented and the consent agenda passed 4-3.
The board directed staff to return with a report on ordering and vetting procedures and with the list of titles so the full board could review them in public. The item will appear on next month’s agenda for discussion and possible policy clarification.
Ending
Board members also asked staff to consider making invoices for reading materials more accessible to the public (rather than on the protected side of the packet) and requested a short report from the purchasing and library staff before the next meeting.
