LGISD Board Bashed for Treatment of Librarians And Books
Becky Snyder addressed the La Grange school board at Monday night’s meeting, both during the non-agenda item time and the agenda item time. Her topics – school board policy and acquisition of library materials.
In her opening remarks, she stated, “As all of you know, I have been attending school board meetings for over a year. La Grange is my new hometown and I am proud to sing its praises every chance I get. I share with others that our assistant superintendent helps in the drop off line at the elementary school regularly, that all three principals have their doctorate degrees, that any time I have contacted the central office with a question, it has been answered quickly. I also share that there are passionate people in the community and on the board who want to do what’s best for our students, and although I am equally passionate, I don’t agree with their methods.
“Over the last year, I have become increasingly concerned about the disregard for several policies that are in place, including the standards for the board members themselves.
She stated, “School Board Policy BBF lists ethical standards for the board. I will not read them all due to time limitations; however, I would like to focus on two.
“The policy starts with: As a member of the Board, I shall promote the best interests of the District as a whole and, to that end, shall adhere to the following ethical standards: “I will accord others the respect I wish for myself.
“I will base my decisions on fact rather than supposition, opinion, or public favor.
“In an open meeting, a board member stated “and as a librarian, and I don’t want to be a librarian, but whoever does, you have a big responsibility to keep filth out of the hands of our kids.” She continued, “To me, that statement is an attack on our current library staff and implies that they have been distributing ‘filth’ to our students.” She said that on another occasion “A board member said, ‘I’m really frustrated that we may potentially be letting more filth in when we haven’t taken the stuff out that is there right now.’ Again, this is a direct attack on library staff in the district.”
Snyder said that similar attacks on district personnel such as coaches would never be allowed by a board member during an open meeting.
She concluded with, “These are clearly in violation of both board policy and board ethics. Yet, it has been allowed to continue month after month. All district staff members deserve to be treated with respect. It is one thing to discuss books and their content. I believe that can be done without making attacks on dedicated staff members.”
Snyder also spoke on the agenda item of acquisition of library materials.
“In October, 2023, before the new policy was adopted, I spoke to you about the importance of reading the entire book. Later at that meeting, the new policy was approved. Since the adoption of the new policy, there has been much said about it and that there will be bumps in the road. It should be noted that the bumps generally are not a result of the policy but the people tasked with following the policy.
“There was a bump in January of this year when the first four books were flagged for removal from the purchase list by two board members. It quickly became apparent that the books had not been read by any board member including the two making the objection. The board decided it was a slippery slope to remove books that no one had read and wisely postponed action until the next meeting.
“At the next meeting, it was crystal clear that books need to be read in their entirety. There was nothing wrong with the books that were singled out and in doing so, it did more to hurt the policy and the credibility of this group than any book ever could.
“I have heard the discussion when the lists are brought up each month. First the lists were too long, so now they have been shortened. Next there are books for high school students that have language some of you don’t approve of. I’m sorry, but dislike for specific words is not in EFB. It details the education code and penal code appropriate to this matter. Never does it say anything about the use of single words such as the F word, B word, S word.
“It seems that there is a new but unofficial revision to the selection guidelines that includes specific words. Some board members have suggested that books should be banned because the words in them violate the student code of conduct. The student code of conduct cannot be the criterion for judging books, because that would lead to absurd results. For example all books related to bullying need to be removed since bullying is against district policy. All books where a character lies, cheats, steals or even carries a backpack that isn’t clear need to go, too. Any book where a male character has a beard needs to go. Have you ever noticed how Jesus is portrayed? I guess books on Christianity that include Jesus with a beard as well as many books on Abe Lincoln will be out the library door, too.
“In at least three meetings, the term ‘slippery slope’ was used as was the importance of not making rash decisions based on too little evidence. Yet, that’s what is happening.”