Parents and residents urge OPS to review high‑school library books for explicit content

Several residents used the April 21 public comment period to ask Omaha Public Schools to review and remove high‑school library books they described as sexually explicit.

Michelle Rogers and Michaella Kazer read passages they called explicit and asked the board to review titles they identified, including Crank, Gender Queer and November 9. "This book contains explicit sexual violence and drug references," Rogers said of Crank, reading multiple passages aloud. Kazer cited passages and illustrations in Gender Queer and a passage in Colleen Hoover's November 9 and asked the board to set a clear, age‑appropriate standard for district libraries.

Both speakers said they were not seeking broad censorship but urged the district to evaluate age appropriateness and to adopt clearer standards. "We're not talking about censorship or banning ideas. We're talking about age appropriateness and the line between education and exposure," Kazer said.

Board policy and procedure limited public comment and the board did not respond during the public comment item. Superintendent Ray and board staff were in the room and were identified by speakers as points of contact; speakers were advised that student‑specific matters should be provided to the superintendent for follow‑up rather than addressed during public comment.

No library policy change or formal action was proposed or taken at the meeting. Board members later discussed the importance of transparency and said they would continue to monitor issues raised by the public through appropriate administrative channels.

The speakers named specific titles and read passages into the record; the district did not announce any immediate policy changes or removals during the meeting.