DATE:
April 30, 2025
TO:
Secondary Principals
FROM:
Carolyn Gough, Teaching and Learning Department Administrator
Norman Emerson, Fine Arts/Instructional Support Services Consultant
SUBJECT:
Library Materials Review
District Policy AA440 outlines a process through which parents, teachers, administrators, students, or Board members may request sensitive materials reviews of library materials. A recent review resulted in the following books being categorized as “objective sensitive materials” and are in the process of being removed from school library collections:
- Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
- Story of A Girl by Sara Zarr
Under the same policy, book removal decisions may be appealed. The policy states, “The Jordan School District Board of Education will review the appeal and vote in a public Board meeting to decide the outcome of a sensitive material review appeal. The appeals process for these titles is now underway.
The District’s teacher librarians have been instructed to remove the books from their shelves and secure them until the appeal has been completed. Language arts department chairs have also been notified.
You will be informed when the Board makes a decision.
