On March 24th, the St. Francis School Board held its most recent monthly public meeting to discuss regular business. However, turmoil had been brewing over recent removals of books from school library shelves. Eighty or perhaps more visitors turned up to speak out on the implementation of new book policy. It was standing room only for the overflow crowd outside the community room. Per meeting policy, thirty-three visitors had signed up to have their meeting remarks heard and recorded without discussion by the Board.
Chair Nathan Burr opened the meeting with the announcement that two organizations — Education Minnesota and the American Civil Liberties Union — had filed lawsuits against the school district that same day in response to the board’s library actions. The lawsuits argue that the Board isn’t following Minnesota School Board Policy 606.5 regarding Library Materials. The meeting proceeded immediately to hearing visitor considerations.
Speakers included students, parents, teachers, community members, and several visiting authors of young adult books removed from school libraries. Twenty-seven speakers, including eleven high school students, spoke in opposition the recent immediate removals of books from St. Francis schools after the books were challenged as inappropriate. Five speakers argued that the book removals were necessary and appropriate. In addition, high school students raised concerns about having the proper resources to fulfill curriculum requirements when classic novels disappear from shelves.
Authors of banished fiction defended their works both in person and through students who read the authors’ remarks to the meeting. Emotions ran high, especially among the students. One began crying as she spoke about the effects of censorship on her educational experience, and several rows of students stood up in solidarity with her as she finished her remarks.
Parents and teachers in favor of book removals declared that passages about sex were “porn” and attempted to use wording from Minnesota law and school board policy to justify the actions taken. An early speaker at the meeting described in detail the correct protocol for the removal of library books and how none of it has been followed. As of the meeting date, ten books had already been pulled while another thirty-four were pending. The mandatory review committee, according to one member, was so far not called to meet about any books.
Toward the end of the consideration remarks, two community members expressed their concern about the cost of the lawsuits to St. Francis and how much it would covered by residents’ tax dollars. This meeting can be watched in its entirety on Youtube under the St. Francis Area Schools account.
Past school board meeting descriptions, agendas, and public minutes can be found linked to their website.
This entire meeting can also be found on YouTube.