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Hundreds of community comments urge St. Francis board to revise book review policy
Summary
Dozens of students, parents, clergy and library professionals urged the St. Francis Area Schools Board of Education to reverse or revise a new book review policy they say limits students' access to diverse literature and risks legal and financial fallout.
Dozens of students, parents, clergy and library professionals told the St. Francis Area Schools Board of Education on April 14 that a recently adopted book-review policy has removed books from school shelves and risks harming students academically, socially and emotionally.
The comments came during the meeting's public-comment period, which the board opened for 19 speakers. They said the district's new policy relies on an outside website for recommendations, bypasses local educators, and could expose the district to costly litigation.
Why it matters: Speakers said the policy affects curriculum and classroom instruction, student mental health and the district's reputation in the housing market and teacher recruitment. Several students and recent graduates described books as lifelines and urged the board to restore librarian and teacher discretion.
Students and alumni recounted how assigned and library books expanded their worldview and prepared them for college and life. "These books teach all…
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