Humble ISD trustees vote to cut library advisory council to minimum of seven members after public comment

Humble Independent School District trustees voted to amend board policy EFB (local) to set the School Library Advisory Council minimum at seven members, the board said at a special meeting that opened at 5:00 p.m.

Several members of the public urged different approaches during the meeting’s public-comment period. Melissa Perry told trustees she initially had wanted the district to abolish the council but, citing Texas Education Code 33.025, asked instead that the board improve the committee and make it parents-only. "Banning books is an absurd notion," Perry said, urging the board to appoint parents from across the district and to avoid further restrictions that would disadvantage students without home access to books.

Deanie Allen, a retired Humble ISD teacher, urged that advisory members represent the whole district and said the proposed guideline language—that library materials "should present a variety of points of view" and "offer a global perspective"—means appointees should reflect districtwide perspectives rather than individual viewpoints. Holly Matherly, a parent who participated in the Slack process, defended the process and the inclusion of diverse viewpoints and asked trustees to specify which aspects of the process had failed.

Trustees debated the proposed amendment before voting. Mr. Silva said changing the council’s minimum from 21 to seven would make the group more manageable and that some concerns raised by Slack appointees reflected the mix of administrative versus governance responsibilities; he indicated support for the change while inviting further feedback. Mr. Scarfo said the district’s local and legal policies provide appropriate guide rails for purchases and challenge procedures and urged following those policies. A trustee identified in the record as "Miss Jo" urged committee members be familiar with relevant state laws referenced in the discussion (SB12, SB13, HB900) and described the new seven-member minimum as a simplification that should ease the committee’s work.

After discussion, the motion to approve the amendment was called to a vote; the transcript records the outcome as "The vote passes 70 unanimously." The board recorded the motion as approved unanimously (recorded here as 7–0). The board then convened a closed session under Texas Education Code section 11.159 for continuing education and later reconvened and adjourned at 7:40 p.m.

The amendment changes the minimum membership of the School Library Advisory Council from 21 to seven; the updated policy language and any administrative guidance about the council’s responsibilities and the line between administrative tasks and governance were not detailed in the public record beyond the discussion at the meeting. The board did not announce specific next steps for implementation during the open session.