The West Liberty Community School District is working on figuring out how the new law regarding library books will affect the district this year.
During the Board of Education meeting Monday, Aug. 7, Superintendent Shaun Kruger told board members there were strict guidelines regarding Iowa Code 702.17.
Iowa Code 702.17 defines what a sex act is and its depiction, according to www.legis.iowa.gov. During the last legislative session, Senate File 496 was passed by the legislature requiring books with sexual acts not be available to students through the school district’s public library.
“Districts are trying to interpret exactly what that means,” Kruger added. “If you take a quick glance at it, it seems pretty explanatory but then there’s always the grey area.”
Librarians and school districts across the state are trying to figure out what this means, he added. They have asked for guidance on this topic.
A school district recently came up with a list of 370 lists of books that they recommended be removed from school district libraries, Kruger said. He didn't’ think this was going to be a universal list for all the school districts in Iowa to use.
“Across the state, librarians are collaborating to try to figure out what this looks like,” he said. “I know Janet Smith, our librarian is working on that as well.”
There are some books available in the school district’s library that fit in with what the Iowa Code says but he wasn’t sure how many there were, Kruger said.
“I guess the good thing is we have until January 2024 to figure this out,” he added. “Then after that, if we’re not meeting the guidelines and following the new legislature there could be some pretty stiff penalties for districts and individuals, etc.”
Kruger asked board members if they had any questions, no one did.
Other items covered by the Board of Education included:
• approving a resolution supporting the intent to loan money from the general fund to the SAVE fund, which would be paid back by Oct. 2024;
• approving a change over order for the athletic complex project;
• and approved several new hires.