Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Library Materials topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident urges Milan Area Schools to remove graphic novel Stars in Their Eyes from middle-school library
Summary
At the Nov. 12 Milan Area Schools board meeting, resident Ron Stark asked trustees to remove the graphic novel Stars in Their Eyes from Milan Middle School, citing explicit scenes involving 14-year-old characters and alleging violations of board policy 2521 and state executive guidance; the superintendent said he would follow up.
Ron Stark, a Milan resident and small-business owner, used the meeting’s public-comment period to urge the Milan Area Schools Board of Education to remove the graphic novel Stars in Their Eyes by Jessica Walton from the Milan Middle School library collection.
Stark told trustees he found passages that depict “explicit romantic and physical interactions between 14-year-old girls,” including a scene where “one character kisses another while straddling her lap,” and argued the title is rated for older readers than the middle-school students who can access it. He requested immediate suspension of the book, formation of a review committee that includes parents and community members, and a public report within 30 days on compliance with board policy 2521 and referenced executive guidance.
“I’m here to respectfully request the removal of the graphic novel Stars in Their Eyes,” Stark said. He framed his request as an age-appropriateness and transparency issue rather than “censorship,” adding that the material “is terrifying” for parents whose children can access it.
The board did not take formal action during the meeting. Chair Syslo asked Superintendent McMahon to follow up with Stark after the meeting; McMahon indicated the administration would be in contact. No committee was formed on the record, and the board did not schedule a vote.
Context and legal references cited by the speaker include board policy 2521 (library materials), an internal reference to board policy 1930, Executive Order 14190 as cited by the commenter, and unspecified Michigan Department of Education guidance. The commenter asserted potential consequences tied to executive guidance and funding but did not present documentation or an official citation during his remarks.
What happens next: Superintendent Ryan McMahon was asked to follow up with Stark; the record shows no board motion to remove the title. If the district pursues a formal review, the board’s public materials indicate such items are typically referred to the superintendent for investigation, recommendation, or placement on a future agenda.
