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Public speakers press Harford County board to reverse library removal of Flamer and explain closed-session vote
Summary
Dozens of residents, students and educators urged the Harford County Board of Education to reinstate the book Flamer and to explain why the board’s final action occurred in a closed hearing rather than in public, saying the book addresses bullying and student mental-health needs.
Dozens of public commenters pressed the Harford County Board of Education on Sept. 22 to reverse its removal of the novel Flamer from school libraries and to explain why the board finalized the action in a closed hearing, which several speakers said felt opaque and inconsistent with district procedures.
Charlene Haupt of Bel Air opened the remarks by opposing book bans and pressing the board for transparency after she received information about negotiations between health insurers; Neil Thompson and others explicitly asked the board to clarify whether policy or procedure prevented a partial removal limited to middle-school shelves. Tarcy Thompson and several speakers cited the district’s appeals procedure, which…
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