In a contentious meeting flooded by criticism from parents and students, Fort Bend ISD's board has passed a new library book policy that shifts the power to remove books from a committee to the superintendent. According to the Houston Chronicle, this decision came with a 5-2 vote in favor, despite considerable opposition from educational stakeholders who consider the move to be the "most restrictive" in Texas.
Ana Lykoudis-Zafiris, an advocate from the Friends of FBISD Libraries group, expressed her concern in a statement obtained by ABC13, saying that the policy showcases the board's disrespect towards educational professionals. The previous process called for the purchase of five copies of any challenged book for committee review. The new policy, however, allows either the superintendent or a designee to unilaterally remove a book and, while a committee can be convened, the superintendent holds the power to overrule any of their recommendations.
Superintendent Marc Smith, as reported by the Houston Chronicle, stated that although he found himself at the center of the controversy, he would in most cases delegate the authority and stressed that committees could still be part of the feedback process. The amended policy arose from a larger debate concerning books deemed explicit or inappropriate by certain board members, leading to past protests where community members vocalized their discontent.
However, trust in the superintendent's discretion has been called into question, as critics argue that the policy could lead to undue board influence over book removal decisions. Trustee Shirley Rose-Gilliam expressed her concern about the potential pressures on the superintendent, indicating a fear of agenda-driven censorship by board members. According to ABC13's report, board member David Hamilton has been a leading figure in the push for stricter content control, having made numerous book challenges himself.
Despite assurances from board members that the new policy is intended only to remove explicit content rather than to enact a ban on books, the educational community at large, including students, parents, and librarians, remains skeptical and apprehensive about the potential narrowing of intellectual diversity within the district's libraries. Traci Marlowe, a librarian in the district, asserted that the policy represented an overreach and conflicted with House Bill 900 and TSLAC standards. Furthermore, educators like elementary school librarian Brandie Dowda rebuked defamatory statements about their profession.
