COTTONWOOD, Ariz. — The Mingus Union High School District is considering a policy that would let anyone challenge whether a book in the school's library should be out in the open or placed in what amounts to a "back room."
According to a draft of the policy, anyone can fill out a challenge form alleging a book violates ARS 15-120.03 which prohibits "sexually explicit" material in schools.
That law was signed in 2022 and prohibits schools from referring to or using any sexually explicit material. It lays out definitions of what "sexually explicit" means.
The school superintendent would have the final word on whether a book violates state law. In that case, the draft policy for Mingus Union High School says the book would be placed inside a "closed shelf" and not available in the general library collection.
There are some exceptions written into the law. One of those exceptions is if the book has "serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value," but does not provide definitions for those.
The law also creates an exception in the form of a permission slip. Parents can sign a consent form allowing their child to have a book that's been placed out of public view.
Dozens of people filled the school library during the last school board meeting to protest the proposed policy, many calling it a book ban.
"I think some of that on both sides was maybe based on some misconceptions and perhaps not a full understanding of the policy," said Mingus Union High School District Superintendent Mike Westcott.
Westcott said district lawyers proposed the policy because the 2022 law exists. He said the district is considering the policy to let the board know what to do in case of a challenge to a book.
"I think it's a good idea to have a policy behind a challenge," Westcott said.
"I guess we feel better about the policy that it's got statutory backing," he said.
The policy is still in draft form. Westcott said if the board approves it, it would probably go into effect near the end of the current school year.
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