Conroe ISD board votes to uphold written challenge, removes 'I Am Billie Jean King' from shelves

The Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees voted 7–0 on Jan. 20 to grant a written challenge to the graphic biography I Am Billie Jean King by Brad Meltzer, following public comment and a closed‑session legal review.

The challenge was placed on the board agenda under the district’s procedures for written challenges and was considered at the first regular meeting 90 days after the district received the complaint, staff said. Doctor Landry briefed trustees on the new statutory procedures tied to recent state laws and confirmed the board’s obligation to take action within the required period.

At the public‑comment portion of the meeting, at least one speaker urged trustees to deny the challenge and keep the book available with parental opt‑out options. A commenter told trustees, “The board is required to consider and take action on the written challenge, but I'm concerned that one or more trustees feel the challenge warrants private discussion with legal counsel. I'm asking the board to deny the written challenge.” Another speaker who opposed removal said the book is an age‑appropriate biography and that Conroe ISD already offers parental opt‑outs for student access.

After the board considered the matter in closed session with legal counsel, a trustee moved to grant the challenge; a second was recorded and the board voted unanimously to grant it. Board minutes show the motion carried 7–0. The board announced the final action in open session.

District staff said the action was taken under the written‑challenge process established in state law; details about the administrative next steps and how the removal will be implemented across campuses were not specified at the meeting.

The meeting also included a broader item on library materials: trustees separately reviewed and approved the district’s September–November library acquisitions list earlier in the same meeting. Staff emphasized the public‑access review process that precedes approval. Trustees did not tie the January decision on the challenge to specific titles on that earlier list during open session.

The board’s written resolution and any follow‑up notices to parents or campuses are expected to appear in the district’s administrative record and the board’s forthcoming minutes.