A majority of Pine-Richland School Board members voted Monday to rescind its policy challenging library books.
The move means Pine-Richland no longer has a reconsideration process to challenge library books deemed inappropriate. Policy sections outlining library book selection and acquisition, weeding, overdue library materials and parental review remain as an administrative regulation.
The removal comes a month after the school board reworked that policy, and nearly three years after the book-challenging debate thrust Pine-Richland in the national spotlight.
Board members Ashley Fortier, Marc Casciani, Melissa Vecchi, Randy Augustine, Amy Cafardi and Liz DeLosa voted in favor of repealing the policy. Leslie Miller and Michael Wiethorn voted against. Philip Morrissette abstained.
“I defer to the board on setting of policy,” said Superintendent Brian Miller. “If the policy is approved, then the (administrative regulation) clearly lays out what the administration will do. If the board chooses to not approve this, then the policy that was previously approved will be implemented.”
Miller said he supported a repeal if it was board-approved.
“I feel confident and comfortable that our librarians are trained and take their responsibility seriously to identify books,” Miller said. “I feel comfortable that in this (administrative regulation), parents have the ability to communicate directly with the librarian and identify any books of concern and work through that in a way that can be managed within a school.”
In October 2023, the district received requests from parents challenging 14 books in the middle and high school libraries. In response, Pine-Richland established a committee to review the books and Superintendent Miller determined they could remain in the libraries.
The school board in March 2025 narrowly approved a policy that gave itself the final say, rather than the superintendent, to add or remove books from district libraries. That policy received mixed reviews from the community.
In December, new board members who opposed the policy took office.
Then in May, a majority of board members revised the policy so that only parents and guardians can raise concerns about library books. It established a review committee for challenged books and outlined that no board action would be required before library books are purchased.
Lists of new materials would be posted on school library websites, and the revised policy kept the ultimate authority to keep or remove a library book with the school board.
Little discussion was held Monday among board members.
Members had floated the idea of repealing the policy at previous board meetings this spring. Those opposed to it questioned accountability and the time spent working on a revision just for it to be repealed. Supporters say other districts don’t have reconsideration processes for library books and that individual parents can work with librarians for materials for their own children.