Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Instructional Materials topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Greenville County board pauses Book Fairs; parents urge transparency on PragerU materials
Summary
Parents, teachers and librarians criticized the district's pause on Book Fairs and raised concerns about an agreement with Prager University; the board moved the issue to the October committee-of-the-whole pending state department follow‑up.
A broad coalition of parents, teachers and school librarians criticized Greenville County Schools’ decision to pause Book Fairs and urged the board to publish a clear plan for reinstatement, while other speakers warned about district use of Prager University (PragerU) materials as supplemental resources.
The meeting’s public‑comment period featured librarians and teachers who said the district’s new vetting form makes it impractical to approve full‑length texts for class, and that the Book Fair pause removes a routine avenue for student access to books. "Banning books has never been enlightened," former teacher Sarah Beth Wood told the board.
Why it matters: callers said the district has not provided clear explanations when books are removed, that promised exceptions (for science and art) were not honored, and that the vetting form requires teachers to cite page numbers and justify expressive language for each passage — steps teachers said they cannot practically complete.
PragerU concerns: Nancy Griffith and other parents raised alarm about an agreement between the superintendent and Prager University, calling the site "propaganda" and saying some videos deny climate change; one speaker said many parents are seeking opt‑out forms for their children.
Board action and next steps: Mr Sailors reported the committee that reviewed the issue will place a resolution on the October committee‑of‑the‑whole agenda, pending any final information from the state Department of Education; the state department asked the district for time to correct the issue. The board took no immediate policy vote to reinstate or permanently ban Book Fairs.
Representative remarks: Librarian Laura Treffinger described the vetting burden: "The form asks for three teachers to read and vet each text ... it asks for page number chapter or section along with the description of each appearance of expressive language." Thomas Treffinger cited State Board of Education Code 43‑170, saying the pause was an overreaction and that parents may request a complete list of instructional materials.
What remains unresolved: the board did not adopt a reinstatement timeline or a transparent public plan. Mr Sailors said the committee will revisit the matter in October if the state does not resolve outstanding issues; no committee vote or ordinance was finalized at this meeting.
The board adopted the consent calendar earlier in the evening and otherwise heard committee updates; the Book Fair matter will return for additional committee consideration in October.
