(This column first appeared in Broad + Liberty)
In January, a parent in the Radnor Township School District (RTSD) challenged three books in the high school library due to explicit images, and a superintendent-appointed committee voted five to one to remove the books.
That should be the end of the story since both the parent and the superintendent followed the district policy; however, the all-Democratic school board chose to violate its existing policy and return the duly removed library books at their April meeting.
The challenged books include explicit graphics that were concerning to the parent and alleged that “Gender Queer,” “Blankets,” and “Fun Home” contain instances of child pornography, simulation of prohibited acts, sex abuse, and female minors performing oral sex.
Once the parent filled out the “Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials” form, the superintendent was required per district policy to form an ad hoc committee to review the books for appropriateness. RTSD’s policy enacted in 2008 dictates the composition of the committee to include “an administrator, a principal, a librarian, a Board member, a classroom teacher in the subject area and a parent.”
On March 7, 2025, the superintendent sent an email to the school community detailing the process and adherence to district policy.
“The ad hoc committee’s decision was not made lightly, and we appreciate the time, effort, and careful consideration that went into this review,” wrote the superintendent. “Since 2022, three ad hoc committees have been convened to evaluate challenged books. In each instance, Board Policy 144.1 was followed yet the outcomes have varied. This is the first time an ad hoc committee has recommended removing materials from the library.”
The email included a link to download the full complaint submitted by the parent with a warning about explicit images.
“The parent’s challenge forms are attached. Please be mindful that select explicit illustrations from each book are included in the complaint.”
(It is ironic that the superintendent warned adults of such images but the books offer no such warning to minors perusing the library.)
According to the superintendent’s email, the books were removed on February 28, 2025, following the committee’s vote.
However, two months later the Democratic school board voted to return the books despite the fact that the policy does not contain a provision to overrule the committee.
The board spent almost two hours at the April 22, 2025, meeting discussing the issue after multiple public comments. The conversation amongst board members covered a range of issues, including changing the current policy and the potential implications for overturning the committee before a policy change could be implemented.
Board President, Sarah Dunn, an attorney, said the board has the authority to overturn any policy as long as it does not violate state law. At the conclusion of the fiery discussion, the board voted 6-0 on the action to return the three books to the library. Three board members abstained from the vote, including Clare Girton, Lon Rosenblum, and Liz Duffy.
There was no action taken on a policy change; however in response to a request for comment, RTSD Director of Communications Theji Brennan, said, “the Board’s Policy Committee will take up review of Policy 144.1 in the coming months.”
Two days later, on April 24, 2025, the superintendent sent another email announcing the return of the books to the library and the board’s intention to change the current policy.
“The School Board had a very thoughtful and lengthy discussion about the full context of the books and expressed their commitment to review and revise Policy 144.1.”
When asked if the district had a comment about overruling the ad hoc committee’s decision, the Director of Communications parroted the superintendent’s email.
“During this month’s business meeting, the Board of Directors held a thoughtful, deliberative discussion (which you can watch here) and voted to return the graphic novels to the high school library.”
Regardless of the deliberative discussion, the school board violated its own policy by voting to return the books to the library. The current policy does not have a provision to overrule the ad hoc committee’s decision, but the board members did it anyway.
Throughout the discussion, several board members referenced “banned” books and how egregious the committee decision was. Yet, not a single director cited the section of Policy 144.1 that addresses “weeding” of the library collection.
“Weeding” is the old-fashioned term for pulling a book out of the library — book banning, in the modern parlance.
Every librarian is expected to “weed” their collection as there is limited space in the library. Typically, librarians review the books and materials regularly to make decisions about what books to remove to make room for new books.
RTSD’s weeding criteria include poor physical condition; seldom circulated or used; outmoded, indicated by copyright or production date; mediocre, inadequate, poor literary quality; unnecessary duplication where demand is no longer so heavy; subject matter or treatment not suitable for students served by the collection; textbooks, except single copies that have reference value; items superseded by new or revised editions; items of ephemeral interest, now of no interest; racial, ethnic and sexual stereotyping.
According to the policy, the RTSD school board voted in April 2022 to remove — to ban — hundreds of books from the middle school library. While the full list was not made available to the public, a parent in the district requested the inventory and was given this document.
Approximately 600 books were removed from the middle school library in 2022, and yet, no one said a word. The district did not produce the list for the board meeting, so unless you specifically asked, you would have no way of knowing.
Maybe all these books were old and outdated or never checked out from the library; however, “Gender Queer “was only checked out once in six years by the student whose parent filed the challenge. The superintendent acknowledged as much in his March 7 email.
“’Gender Queer’ has been in the library for six years and has never been checked out by a student except to be challenged.”
While the issue of appropriateness will continue to be debated at school board meetings, it is well past time to stop invoking the term “book banning.” There are no books banned in this country — all of these books are readily available to purchase or borrow from the public library.
The irony of the Barnes & Noble display is apparently lost on both the RTSD school board and the book nationwide book chain. How can these books be banned if they are for sale in a store open to the public? That is decidedly not book banning.
Whether you think the books are appropriate or not, all residents should be outraged at the way this school board overrode their own policy. Taxpayers elect school directors to be faithful stewards of their tax dollars and to follow the law and their own policies. RTSD could have easily waited to enact a new policy following the proper procedure; however, that would have pushed it out until June — notably after the May primary. Three of the six directors who voted to violate their policy are up for reelection this year, including Board President Sarah Dunn, Lydia Solomon, and Susan Stern.
Perhaps the board’s vote was political or maybe the entire “thoughtful discussion” was just another opportunity to wave the “banned books” flag. Regardless of the motivation, the board violated their own policy under the guise of refusing to “ban” books that a committee deemed inappropriate with no mention of the 600 books previously removed.
