Parents and residents urge Pomona Unified to address library content and AB 495; paraeducator raises safety concerns

Several members of the public used the Oct. 15 Pomona Unified board meeting to raise complaints about library materials, a recently passed state bill and on-campus staffing conditions.

Multiple speakers criticized certain library titles as inappropriate for minors and urged the board to remove specific books from school libraries. One speaker characterized the books as sexually explicit and said community members had repeatedly requested action; another urged the board to provide a written response to a constituent letter about library content.

Separately, Hansel Orzami, a local pastor, urged the board to scrutinize Assembly Bill 495 and its potential to allow unvetted adults to remove children from schools in certain circumstances; he described the bill as weakening parental rights and asked the district to review the law.

In a separate public comment, a paraeducator at the district's Adult Transition Program said paraeducators are frequently assigned to accompany students on community outings, worksites and public transit without credentialed staff present and requested that job descriptions and protections be updated to reflect those duties. Superintendent Knowles said staff would follow up to review the paraeducator's concerns.

Several speakers also announced new charter-school plans and community campaigns during public comment; a charter petitioner introduced Rhodes Academy School of Business and Financial Literacy and said the group plans to submit a petition to the district.