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Librarians brief Sumner County board on textbook review; reconsideration of challenged book pushed to May
Summary
District librarians updated the board on draft guidance and teacher book-list requirements; staff said a state bill did not advance so local teachers must still supply lists, and a reconsideration request for The Perks of Being a Wallflower will be deferred while the board finalizes policy.
District library staff and a group of school librarians told the Sumner County Board of Education the district is preparing local policy updates on instructional-materials review and explained the state-level context for teacher book lists.
Doreen Brown said a Sumner County delegation attended Library Legislative Day and met with several state lawmakers to discuss laws under consideration affecting classroom and library collections. "We were able to meet with Senator Hill, Representative Lambert, Slater and Garrett," she said, noting changes in the Legislature's committees affected what the county must do locally.
Board and staff said one bill that would have changed how teacher classroom lists operate did not clear the House education subcommittee, which means local teachers continue to be required to provide book lists under existing state law. Staff said they have set an internal deadline of about May 10 for compiling teacher and classroom book lists and will provide scanning support and technology to teachers who need help documenting collections.
Staff also provided a draft of textbook-commission guidance and a suggested local policy that includes a 14-day review committee window and an appeals route to the library materials commission for parties who wish to contest a board decision.
On a separate agenda item, the board opened a reconsideration request for the library title The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. A board member suggested postponing action on that specific reconsideration until May so the board could finalize review procedures first. Staff confirmed the books in question have been pulled from shelves for review pending board action.
The policy changes were presented as a first reading; staff recommended consolidation of draft options and an additional review prior to final adoption.
