Residents, students press St. Francis Area Schools board over book removals as district cites active litigation

St. Francis Area Schools board members heard nearly an hour of public comment on April 28 from students, parents and community members who urged the district to reverse or revise recent book removals and adopt a more inclusive review policy. A district representative told the room the district is involved in active litigation and cannot provide details on policies while legal proceedings continue.

The discourse centered on the effects of removing books from school shelves and the impacts on students. Izzy Bongert, a sophomore at Saint Francis High School, told the board: "The policy removes books from our schools that enhances imagination." She told members many students rely on books to understand difficult topics and said those books help teenagers "understand themselves better."

Community members described the issue as broader than single titles. Brian Bongert said the removals represented "an issue of respect" for students and parents and argued the policy "takes away the power of the parents to make legitimate choices." Chris B., a resident who said books helped him through difficult periods in his life, said inclusive books can be a lifeline: "Books kept me alive. Books provided me hope."

Several speakers urged the board to adopt a clear, transparent book-review process rather than ad hoc removals. Nikki Cruz Dot and others invited community involvement in conversations and suggested author events as ways to engage the public; one commenter referenced a recent production of Seussical the Musical as an example of literature'based community engagement.

The board opened the meeting with a prepared statement noting it would not comment on the status of policies because of ongoing litigation. That statement said only that "attorneys have been in communication with the attorneys representing the plaintiffs, and settlement communication has occurred." Mike Starr, a former St. Francis school board member who addressed the board, said he had recently received paperwork indicating he is a defendant in litigation related to the policy.

No board action was taken during the public-comment period; the board reiterated that formal policy discussion will proceed through the policy committee and legal counsel. The board packet and upcoming work sessions list student-discipline, policy reviews and a policy committee process among future agenda items.

The comments reflect an ongoing and highly engaged public debate in St. Francis over book access and review procedures; the district said it will allow the legal process to continue before discussing policy specifics.