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Parents urge Omaha Public Schools to remove sexually explicit and violent books from school libraries
Summary
Two public commenters asked the school board to remove or restrict student access to two novels they described as sexually explicit or violent; one read an explicit excerpt at the podium and a second cited counts of profanity and violent passages and said the books are available at multiple OPS schools.
Two speakers at the Omaha Public Schools board meeting on Aug. 18 urged officials to remove or restrict access to books they described as sexually explicit or containing violent material.
Mikaela Khazor, who identified herself as an Elkhorn resident, told the board that the novel The Infinite Moment Between Us by Lauren Maracle contains “graphic pornographic material” and “should not be in Omaha public schools.” Khazor read aloud a passage from the book and asked the board to remove it from student access at Omaha North High School; she said the title is marketed as a young‑adult romance and is not an appropriate trauma resource for students.
Michelle Rogers, who said she lives in Omaha, spoke about the novel Monday’s Not Coming and described violent scenes and frequent profanity. Rogers told the board the title is available in 13 OPS schools — including middle schools and a program the district described as serving students with social, emotional and learning needs — and urged school leaders to review its placement.
Board policy and state law governed the public‑comment instructions: speakers were reminded not to identify individual students or staff in their remarks. Board members did not respond during public comment; the meeting then moved on to the consent agenda and other business.
Neither petitioner identified a specific administrative outcome (for example, a formal challenge under the district’s library‑materials or reconsideration policy) during their remarks. The board did not take immediate action on the books during the meeting.
