Sparta school board takes aim at 'lewd' library materials, critics call policy 'dangerous'

SPARTA — The Sparta Board of Education advanced two policy revisions on the reading material allowed in district libraries and the protocol for challenging "sexualized content." But the move brought warnings from some parents and even the assistant superintendent about the potential ramifications.

The board voted 6-1 Thursday to approve the first reading of amendments to Policies 2530, titled "Resource Materials," and 9130, covering "Public Complaints and Grievances." The vote came after comments by two dozen speakers, most of whom warned about censorship or complained the move was motivated by anti-LGBTQ+ bias.

The revisions outline the role of school libraries in students' education and promote parental involvement in what children are learning. Supporters on the board, led by a six-member slate that campaigned against "sexualized" educational materials, noted they were updating procedures that hadn't been reviewed since 1999.

"We are confident that our revisions properly balance the rights of our students with the rights of their parents, while at the same time respecting the important role that our very valued educators and our media specialists play in the process," said board Vice President Leigh McMichael.

Summary of policy changes

The proposed changes to 2530 prioritize educational works for elementary school students that do not contain "sexualized content," defined as "the actual or implied depictions or descriptions of sexual acts or simulations of such acts." The revisions also recommend no sexualized content in middle and high schools "unless there is a legitimate pedagogical reason for such content in the context of the resource material."

Additional changes state that there shall be no "lewd, vulgar or profane content" in elementary school libraries. For libraries in the middle and high schools, the policy only suggests no "lewd or vulgar content."

The 9130 revisions feature changes to the process to file complaints about resource materials, notably the addition of two board members to a committee assigned to evaluate the work. The committee will also include the school principal, the head of the department where the book is being used, a teacher in the department and a library staff member from outside the school where the material is located.

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How the board voted

Board President Kurt Morris and fellow members Lauren Collier, Walter Knapp, LeeAnne Pitzer and Christina Keiling joined McMichael in voting for the revisions. Craig Palleschi was the lone board member in opposition, while Wendy Selander and Vanessa Serrano were absent from the meeting.

Administrator fears 'unintended consequences'

The board's vote was preceded by roughly an hour of public comment on the revisions, followed by input from Sparta Superintendent Matt Beck and Assistant Superintendent Tara Rossi.

Rossi expressed her concerns that the update process was "rushed" at what is a very busy time of year for school administrators. She also questioned why the board used language from a Pennsylvania district ranked lower than Sparta in creating the revisions, and wondered whether the proposed policies would end up harming the district.

"A district can write policy, but we have to be really clear on what the intended consequences are," Rossi said, "and I think there are substantial unintended consequences with this policy right now."

Beck said he fully trusts Sparta's media professionals while also acknowledging parents' desire to be involved in their children's education.

"I think there is a balance in there somewhere. I'm not sure exactly where that is at this time," he said, later adding, "perhaps there's more work to be done and more collaboration to be done."

Critics see 'subjective and dangerous' policy

About two dozen people spoke during Thursday's meeting, with many opposing the changes as written for undermining the work of library professionals. They noted that terms like "lewd" and "vulgar" are open to interpretation, and pointed out that parents can choose to opt their children out of any lessons.

"The language used in this policy is still extremely subjective and dangerous," said Angela DeLuccia, a media specialist in the Sparta High School library. "It is evident by this revision that there is a serious lack of trust in our media specialists."

Juliette Sanchez, a junior at the high school, urged the board to let the experts implementing the policies do their job. She then referenced the mantra of the six board members who voted to advance the policies when they ran together in the November election.

"I would encourage you to listen to student voices, who many of you campaigned as putting first," Sanchez said.

But others voice support

Other speakers supported the policies for promoting parental rights and ensuring children are not exposed to age-inappropriate material.

Phil Rizzo, a former Sparta resident who previously ran for governor and Congress, alluded to the controversy in Roxbury involving high school librarian Roxana Russo Caivano. She has filed a lawsuit alleging four township residents have labeled her a "child predator" who is "luring children with pornography" in the district libraries.

"Let me encourage you with something: do not Roxbury your Sparta," Rizzo told the Sparta board.

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Allegations of LGBTQ+ discrimination

Some who opposed the revisions argued the move was intended to remove LGBTQ+ content containing mature themes, thus making students who are part of that community unwelcome. In February, Sparta's board voted to move a young adult novel with gay characters and sexual content from the middle school to the high school library.

McMichael, the board vice-president, said the proposals weren't meant to target any group of people.

"Nowhere in this policy, in this district and in this town is (homophobia) acceptable," she said. "We are not changing policy to affect marginalized communities such as the LGBTQ community or other religious groups, et cetera. This is simply a policy revision to protect children's innocence."

Kyle Morel is a local reporter covering Morris and Sussex counties.

Email: kmorel@njherald.com; Twitter: @KMorelNJH

This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Sparta NJ schools take aim at 'lewd' library materials