Wide public backlash at Harford County school board meeting after removal of Flamer from libraries

Dozens of Harford County residents told the Board of Education on Sept. 8 that the board should reverse its decision to remove the novel Flamer from school libraries.

Speakers at the meeting — including parents, retired librarians, teachers and students — repeatedly said the school system’s library professionals and the appointed reconsideration committee had recommended keeping the book in high school collections. ‘‘Librarians already agreed that it belongs in high school collections based on professional reviews and grade-level guidelines,’’ said Caitlin Hurley, a Harford County librarian speaking virtually. Multiple in-person speakers said the board ignored that committee’s recommendation.

Several commenters tied the decision to broader concerns about representation and student well-being. Tiffany Wandi, a public-health professional, urged the board to restore the book, saying Flamer ‘‘directly targets our LGBTQIA+ students’’ and that representation ‘‘saves lives,’’ citing national research on suicide risk among LGBTQ youth. Other speakers described personal experiences with bullying and said the book offers a path to understanding and support.

Some attendees defended the board’s action or emphasized age-appropriateness. Board member Korn, who said he did not vote on the title, framed the dispute as one about what is suitable for younger students rather than ‘‘banning’’ books outright. ‘‘No one’s banning you from buying a book,’’ Korn said during board comments; he added that his concern was protecting younger readers from graphic material.

Speakers also raised procedural concerns. Delaine Lewis of Together We Will urged the board to acknowledge that moving from an appellate review to a fact-finding decision changed the nature of the hearing and, she said, should have required fuller public process. Several commenters alleged the board’s final action following a June hearing had not been fully transparent in the minutes.

Opponents and supporters of the board’s decision clashed in tone and emphasis in public comment. Susie Scott of Moms for Liberty said parents were being harmed by ‘‘radical gender ideology’’ and thanked board members who voted to remove several titles; other speakers invoked constitutional and educational arguments for keeping books accessible to the students for whom they were intended.

The board did not take an immediate reopening vote on Flamer at the Sept. 8 meeting. President Pointon and several board members urged speakers to use an upcoming listening session — scheduled for Sept. 30 at C. Milton Wright High School — or to submit written materials so the board and staff could continue the conversation outside the 90-second-per-speaker public-comment window.

The most recent procedural detail the public requested was a board reconsideration of the committee’s recommendation and clearer documentation of the steps the board took after the reconsideration committee’s hearing.