The Woodlands | February 2023

EDUCATION Conroe ISD’s library policies receive additional scrutiny

Book review process

BY KYLEE HAUETER

in school libraries. A Level 3 appeal hearing is held after a book is agged by a parent and reviewed by a reconsideration committee. A parent has to appeal the decision twice for the matter to reach this level and go before the board of trustees. After the hearing, the board voted 4-3 to keep the book in high school libraries but to remove it from classroom libraries as well as to review the district’s library opt-out policies at a later time. As of press time, a date for that review had not been scheduled. Odenweller said she believes a board member should be a standing member on all book review committees so the board remains aware of what is happening with dierent books. “In my opinion, we should want a board member to be on [it] ... to even be aware of what’s going on,” Odenweller said. “We know there are books that are in our classrooms that are inappropriate and violate our standards, ... [so] how are we knowing that we’re protecting our children and protecting each of us and this school district, too?” Trustees Stacey Chase, Theresa Wagaman, Skeeter Hubert and Datren Williams spoke against allowing a board member to be on the committees. “This reconsideration committee is an opportunity for the community to give their input,” Hubert said. “We as board members have the ultimate say, so if we are also on that committee, the community is not given the opportunity to give their unbiased input.” As it stands, the policy does not give any guidance for whether a board member is eligible to stand on the committee. CISD’s General Counsel Carrie Galatas said the district has not found any other district where a board member also sits on book review committees. Williams said if a board member is required to be on book committees the same argument could be made for every committee in the district. “This has everything to do with board overreach and a lack of trust in the professionals that we have in place to safeguard our students,” he said. The next meeting of the board of trustees is at 6 p.m. on Feb. 21.

After revising its library policies in August, Conroe ISD will again review policies regarding library books, instructional materials, classroom libraries and book review committees this year. At a regular board meeting Jan. 18, CISD’s board of trustees debated the book review committee process and rules about who may serve on the committee as well as the library system, which allows parents the opportunity to opt out from certain books for their children. To opt out, parents must log into the online library system and select the books they do not want their children to be allowed to check out. If the child tries to check out the book, the system will ag it, and the librarian will not let the student take that book. Several trustees, including Melissa Dungan and Misty Odenweller, said they would like to see that system changed to an opt-in system that would require parents to give permission for their child to check out certain books. “The Perks of Being a Wallower” by Stephen Chbosky was the rst book to reach a Level 3 appeal in the process, in which a title goes before the board of trustees to determine whether it should remain BOOKS UNDER REVIEW As of Jan. 25, two books were pending review by Conroe ISD’s book reconsideration committees.

If a library book gets agged as being inappropriate, the district forms a committee to determine whether

A written request to a review a book is received.

the book is not appropriate for students.

A committee consisting of school and community members is formed.

After review, the book is either pulled or placed

back on shelves.

A hearing o cer overturns or upholds the committee decision.

Parents may appeal the decision.

If the decision is upheld, the parent may appeal to the board of trustees.

The board of trustees holds an o cial hearing on the book.

Previously reviewed books

Under review

SOURCE: CONROE ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Faster, Friendlier, Fiber Internet

THE WOODLANDS EDITION • FEBRUARY 2023