School authorities in Plano, Texas, have decided to establish a library council to suggest books for the school district.
In a series of recent decisions, several Independent School Districts (ISDs) in Texas, including Coppell and Denton, have voted to create School Library Advisory Councils (SLACs). This move comes in response to Senate Bill 13, one of several "parental rights" bills that passed during the recent legislative session.
The new law allows trustees to name parents and community members to the SLAC, or for parents to petition to create one. The councils are tasked with recommending which books belong in school libraries.
However, concerns have been raised about the size of these councils and their ability to represent the entire student body. Trustee Michael Cook from one district has expressed his concern that the small council may not adequately represent the 47,000 students in the district.
Jennifer Reagan, a parent in Plano ISD, shares similar concerns. She argues that a small group of parents, without required expertise, may not adequately evaluate the annual volume of books the district considers adding.
On the other hand, Trustee Sam Johnson finds value in having community input in decisions regarding school library materials. He suggests including families and other community experts in these decisions, as permitted by the law. Under Plano's policy, the school board retains final say over library materials.
Plano ISD already has a book challenge process in place that allows parents to participate. Johnson prefers the district's current process where librarians recommend books for school libraries.
It's important to note that the precise structure and book selection processes for Coppell ISD and Denton ISD cannot be definitively described without district-specific documentation or publicly available guidelines. For authoritative details, it's recommended to contact the respective districts' library media services or curriculum departments directly or review any published district policies on library governance.
The creation of these councils marks a shift in the decision-making process for school libraries in Texas. As these councils begin their work, it will be interesting to see how they balance community input with the expertise of librarians and educators in determining which books belong in school libraries.
News about the creation of School Library Advisory Councils (SLACs) in several Independent School Districts (ISDs) in Texas, including Coppell and Denton, has sparked discussions about education and self-development within the community. This decision, in response to Senate Bill 13, allows for parent and community member involvement in recommending books for school libraries, bridging education and community matters. However, concerns have been raised about the representation of the entire student body, as some argue that a small group of parents may not adequately evaluate the annual volume of books to be added to school libraries.
