by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

“Franklin County schools removed 58 books from their libraries. This was not in response to complaints from parents or the community, but because of a fear of being in compliance with Tennessee state law,” explained Christina Soontornvat, Franklin County resident and children’s books author, at the Nov. 10 Franklin County School Board meeting. Soontornvat learned about the books being removed from an article in The Tennessean and spoke with school librarians who, by board policy, have the authority to remove books from the library shelves, unless challenged by the board. Clarification of the Library Materials policy was among the policy changes subsequently voted on at the meeting.

The Tennessee legislature recently amended the Age Appropriate Materials Act, Soontornvat said. The law’s language prohibits schools from having any books that have sexual content, nudity, or excess violence. “It really hard to determine what that is,” Soontornvat insisted. “This language could even apply to books like the Bible. In Franklin County a librarian took out any art history books because she was afraid there would be nudity in those books.” Other counties removed large numbers of books from the shelves, as well: Knox County 49, Rutherford County 150, Monroe County 574. According to Soontornvat, the Wilson County High School principal advised his teachers, “Get rid of your classroom libraries. We don’t want you to run afoul of the law.”

Human Resources Supervisor Roger Alsup observed many of the books “quarantined” in Franklin County were the same books removed by other school districts. Alsup stressed the books were taken from the shelves, not discarded, in the event the law changed and the books could be returned to circulation. “We spent a lot of money on these books,” Alsup pointed out.

“There has been some miscommunication in that you had some schools calling it a ‘quarantine,’ but reporters deemed it a ‘ban,’” said Director of Schools Cary Holman. “The books were not discarded. They are still on site.”

The 58 titles removed from the Franklin County School library shelves include “Ancient Egypt;” “Ancient Rome;” “Ancient Greece;” “Greek Mythology;” “An Introduction to Drawing for Kids;” “13 Artists Children Should Know;” “Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You;” “Five, Six, Seven, Nate!,” a novel about a teenage boy who wants to star in a Broadway show; “You Should See Me in a Crown” named by TIME magazine one of the best 100 young adult books of all time about a Midwestern teenage girl who feels “too black, too poor, and too awkward;” and “The Moon Within,” a coming of age novel for girls written in verse.

Soontornvat appealed to the board to contact state legislators and urge them to realize, “You’re making it hard to spread the love of reading.” The legislature will revisit the Age Appropriate Materials Act in 2026. Soontornvat also asked the board to publish the list of removed books.

In response to a recommendation by Board Vice Chair Lance Williams, the list will be linked to the Board Docs webpage.

Alsup expects going forward only one or two titles will be removed each year, if any. “They [librarians] now know to look at those books [for controversial material] prior to even ordering them,” he said.

The amended Library Materials policy approved by the board stipulates the list of removed books must include the reason for removing a book.

Taking up other policy decisions, the board opted for adopting a highly detailed version of the amended School District Goals policy. Board members Sarah Marhevsky and Caycee Roberts thanked Alsup for incorporating the suggestions made at a recent board workshop. Speaking in favor of the more detailed policy, Holman emphasized having detailed policy was a useful tool in grant writing. “The more you can show the alignment to your district goals [by having detailed policy], you have a greater evidential piece to support that grant.”

The amended Compensation policy approved by the board provides for a “deceased teacher’s estate or designated beneficiary [to] be paid 50 percent of [the teacher’s] daily rate at the time of death for any unused accumulated leave.” A recent change in state law made it possible for the board to compensate deceased teachers’ beneficiaries, Williams said. He expressed regret that the provision was not “retroactive.”

In the update on projects, Holman reported the field house at the Franklin County Annex would be “revitalized” and the bathrooms at the annex field would be relocated to the former visitor concession stand.