Board adopts library-materials policy updates to comply with Texas' SB 13; procurement lists and parent access required
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Summary
Trustees voted unanimously Aug. 18 to revise Rockwall ISD's library-materials policy to meet new state requirements under Senate Bill 13, including public posting of proposed procurement lists and expanded parent access through the Destiny library system.
The Rockwall Independent School District Board of Trustees on Aug. 18 approved updates to EFB(LOCAL), the district policy on school library materials, to comply with Senate Bill 13.
Ricky Smith, director of instructional technology and media services, told trustees the key changes require that proposed procurement lists (including donated materials) be made publicly available at least 30 days before the board vote; that campus library collections be accessible online through the district library-management system (Destiny); and that parents and guardians be able to formally identify materials they do not want their child to check out. Smith also said the policy requires that challenge-committee meetings be recorded, that minutes and agendas be posted in advance, and that teachers be notified if a challenged item is removed from a campus library.
Why it matters: The revisions add procedural and transparency steps to the district's existing library processes. Trustees asked about whether approval would be for an entire procurement list and were told there will be procedures for board review and possible adjustments. The administration said donated materials and new purchases added to the catalog are covered; classroom instructional materials remain governed by separate instructional-materials rules.
Board action: After a short break to allow trustees to review the policy text, the board voted 7-0 to adopt the updated EFB(LOCAL). The administration will publish procedures and timelines for posting procurement lists and will configure the Destiny system for parent-notification emails of student checkouts.
Selected quote: "The board's vote, the recommended procurement list must be made publicly available for at least 30 days," Ricky Smith told trustees.
What the policy does not do: The update governs materials added to the district library catalog (purchased or donated) and formalizes the challenge and removal process; it does not change instructional-material selection rules for classroom libraries, which the administration said are treated separately.
Sources: Presentation and Q&A on EFB(LOCAL) updates during the Aug. 18, 2025 Rockwall ISD Board of Trustees meeting; staff comments from library and instructional-technology leadership.