District 11 board adopts revised library-resources policy, replaces "obscenities" with "obscene"

The Board of Education for District 11 voted on Nov. 19 to adopt a revised version of policy IJL, which governs library resource selection, maintenance and reconsideration. The board approved an amendment to change a wording choice in the selection section so that materials must be "free of obscene and pornographic material."

Why it matters: the policy defines how school libraries select and retain materials and how complaints and reconsiderations are handled. Language choices such as "obscene" versus "obscenities" frame whether reviewers apply a legal standard for obscenity or look at specific passages in context, and the board debated that distinction before adopting the revision.

Director Ott, who worked on the draft with Director Jorgensen, proposed three suggested edits shared with the board the night before the meeting and moved one as a formal amendment: replacing the noun "obscenities" with the adjective "obscene" in the fifth bullet of the "selection and maintenance of library resources" section. Director Ott said the change would read better and align wording with a later clause that references the legal definition of obscene material. Several board members discussed whether adding the word "inclusive" before a requirement for a "balanced collection" was redundant; that suggestion did not gain support.

Board members raised competing concerns: Director Bankes argued that keeping the term "obscenities" helps reviewers focus on specific contextual passages rather than declaring an entire work obscene; Director Huber warned against broad censorship and emphasized protections for students' access and parents' rights. "I can read what I want," Director Huber said in describing a value she wants preserved while also asking the board to ensure clear processes for complaints.

The amendment to substitute "obscene" for "obscenities" was moved by Director Ott and seconded; the board conducted a roll-call vote on the amendment with the following recorded responses: Director Bankes (Aye), Director Carey (Aye), Doctor Hafeli (Aye), Doctor Hubert (Aye), Director Jorgensen (Aye), Director Mel Patkins (Aye), Director Aft (Aye). The chair then called for a roll call to adopt policy IJL as amended; the board recorded the same pattern of affirmative votes and the chair announced the policy had been adopted with the revision.

The board also discussed the process and timeline for further review; Director Ott said he appreciated the opportunity to rework the policy with colleagues and community input. The meeting moved into executive session afterward to discuss legal advice and personnel matters.

The policy now in effect reads, in the selection-and-maintenance bullet the board amended, "to ensure all media across the district is free of obscene and pornographic material."