The North East Independent School District Board approved revisions to EFB (local) to bring the district into compliance with Senate Bill 13, including public posting of proposed library titles for 30 days before board approval, parent opt-out controls in the district circulation system, and a recommendation to create a District Library Advisory Committee (DLAC).

Christina Arena, director of library services, told trustees that many SB13 expectations are already embedded in NEISD practices and that the recommended changes would increase transparency and parent participation. "This presentation outlines both existing practices and proposed updates to policy," Arena said, explaining the district’s plan to use a two-times-a-year purchasing cadence to compile and post lists of new ISBNs that are not duplicates in the catalog.

Trustees pressed administrators on likely effects. Trustee Cox said other districts had reported a "15 or 16 months" slowdown in getting new titles to students; she warned that a long delay could disrupt classroom libraries and donations. Trustee Villareal asked how e-content platforms would comply; Arena replied that district-managed e-content (Sora) is controlled by NEISD and that access will be adjusted until vendors provide required functionality. Trustee Shelton and others argued that temporarily removing books during a reconsideration process resembles censorship, but legal counsel and staff said SB13 requires removal during reconsideration and that the district must comply.

The board also debated whether to include the DLAC in the reconsideration/appeal chain; counsel noted that if 50 parents (or 10% of the student-body parents) petition for a DLAC, the district must form it. Trustees voted to adopt EFB local as presented; the motion carried 5–2.

Why it matters: The policy changes move final approval for new library titles to the board and create a multi-step review for challenges — a process that trustees warned could substantially slow when new materials reach students. Administrators emphasized steps to mitigate delays, including grandfathering existing shelf titles and working to standardize vendor metadata and publishing cadence.

What’s next: Administration will post proposed title lists as required, begin the schedule for December and March reviews, and, if formed, staff will establish DLAC membership and training per the policy.