A heated series of public comments and board exchanges at the Nov. 20 Francis Howell R-III Board meeting centered on library materials and how the board should respond to community complaints.

Multiple speakers told the board they had found books in district libraries they considered "age inappropriate" or explicitly graphic. Ron Kushkar told the board he believed "over 80" books fit that description and urged the district to identify staff who acquire materials and to provide sensitivity training. Parent and speaker Justine Glancy asked the board for greater transparency about materials under review and pointed listeners to the district’s online catalog and Regulation 6-3-41 for families who want to monitor checkouts.

Director Pushkar read excerpts from several titles during board comments, identified some as available at Francis Howell Central and Francis Howell North, and urged librarians to remove the materials. In the meeting record he said, "This book is disgusting," while naming titles. Pushkar also said patrons should use the challenge process but suggested the board must be prepared to act when materials cross a line.

Other directors warned that the district already has an approved challenge process and that attempting to challenge large numbers of books simultaneously could overwhelm procedures. President Blair and other board members said the district will follow its current policy and that any proposed changes to procedures could be considered through the policy-review process.

On governance, the board held a first reading of a proposed conduct/censure policy (P0340). Director Harmon and others said the policy is intended to set expectations for board-member communication and consequences for "belittling, shaming, rude, disrespectful, or inaccurate" public statements. Several directors pressed for clarification on terms, the appeals process and whether a simple majority or a supermajority should be required for censure; the item was set for a second reading and vote at the Dec. 11 meeting.

The board did approve policy 0412 (an extension of time for special-patron comments) by roll-call vote (recorded ayes and nos during the meeting).

What’s next: The book-challenge process remains the mechanism for parents to request review; the board will revisit the conduct/censure policy on Dec. 11 and the administration said it will keep families informed about how to view students’ checked-out items online.