2025-03-21 10:45:02 -0400
To: Pine-Richland community
**Right to Read: Pine-Richland**
Pine-Richland’s School Board approved their revised library policy tonight -- and it's not good!
Why is this important?
The new policy gives ultimate decision-making about what books are added to our libraries & what books are removed from our libraries, to the Board majority.
The Board rejected a requirement that they READ books before deciding their fate. The policy removes the former review committee comprised of district staff & community members, who cooperated to assess challenged books.
The new policy also imposes long delays on getting *any* new books into students’ hands.
A year & a half after a staged visit from a political agitator kicked off a set of book challenges, our School Board majority ignored the voices of educators, students, community members, and even the district solicitor, to push through a problematic library policy revision. Its origins remain unclear, though anti-plagiarism software identifies multiple sections directly copied from other districts.
Members of our community need to know that student access to books is being delayed & restricted for a political agenda. Our certified librarians & educators are being sidelined. Who benefits from this policy?
Please sign and share this petition if you support the right to read in Pine-Richland.
The Board rejected a requirement that they READ books before deciding their fate. The policy removes the former review committee comprised of district staff & community members, who cooperated to assess challenged books.
The new policy also imposes long delays on getting *any* new books into students’ hands.
A year & a half after a staged visit from a political agitator kicked off a set of book challenges, our School Board majority ignored the voices of educators, students, community members, and even the district solicitor, to push through a problematic library policy revision. Its origins remain unclear, though anti-plagiarism software identifies multiple sections directly copied from other districts.
Members of our community need to know that student access to books is being delayed & restricted for a political agenda. Our certified librarians & educators are being sidelined. Who benefits from this policy?
Please sign and share this petition if you support the right to read in Pine-Richland.