Solano County Grand Jury • 2023-2024 • Agency Response
Response to: Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District

Book Banning*

Published: June 21, 2024 2 pages
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Findings and Recommendations 4 findings

F1 Page 1
– Not all public school libraries publicize policies and procedures to address how a request to ban a book is implemented. The District agrees with this finding. <u>Superintendent</u>
No recommendations for this finding
F2 Page 1
– Public school libraries run the risk of monetary fines if they do not comply with the new regulations by July 2025, incurring potential fiscal risk. The District agrees with this finding.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Page 1
– All public school libraries adopt uniform policies and procedures incorporating requirements of the new law by July 2025, thereby avoiding the possibility of future fines. "In a safe, welcoming, and supportive learning environment, we provide innovative educational opportunities to develop resilient students who are inspired to succeed." The recommendation has already been implemented. Fairfield-Suisun updated Board Policy 1312.2 in and Administrative Regulation 1312.2 in November 2023 to comply with the new regulations. (Board Policy 1312.2 and Administrative Regulation 1312.2)
F3 Page 2
- Not all school library staff members have been properly trained to address the general public's interest in requests for banning, which may lead to further issues in implementing the new regulations. The District agrees with this finding.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Page 2
– Implement appropriate training for all staff members who will need to address the issue when approached by the public. The recommendation has been implemented. Fairfield-Suisun USD will continue to implement annual training for all library staff to ensure that staff knows how to address the general public's interest in requests for banning.
F4 Page 2
– Not all public school libraries have standing panels or committees with librarians who are qualified for each genre of books to respond to requests for banning, which could lead to inconsistent application of the new regulations. The District disagrees partially with this finding. The District agrees that not all public school libraries have standing panels or committees. The District does not agree that the lack of a standing committee could result in inconsistent application of the new regulations. Rather, it is more important to form a committee with relevant expertise which is not possible with a standing committee given the broad range of age level and genre of books in a school library.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
Page 2
– All public school libraries within the County establish standing panels or committees who respond to requests for banning, consisting of members familiar with library literature and knowledge of requirements of the new regulation. The recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted or reasonable. Fairfield-Suisun USD follows Administrative Regulation 1312.2 regarding Complaints Concerning Instructional Materials. As outlined in the Administrative Regulation, "the Superintendent or designee shall appoint a committee composed of administrators and staff members selected from relevant instructional and administrative areas. The Superintendent or designee may also appoint parents/guardians, students, and community members, as appropriate, to serve on the committee." The District finds this process provides a committee of educational partners who are qualified to review and respond to individual complaints. Respectfully submitted, ennRos Jenn Roush Assistant Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District

* This report's PDF did not contain easily extractable text and required Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for analysis. There may be minor errors in the extracted findings and recommendations due to OCR limitations with scanned documents.