After months of discussions, it’s back to the drawing board for the book policy committee in the Hempfield Area School District.

The battle over what titles should be on the shelves of school libraries and what process could be used to deal with materials that are challenged because of graphic violence or sexual content will be debated once again at a school board meeting.

The board’s policy committee, including four board members, could not come to an agreement last week on a proposed policy for a book challenge. That will be discussed again at the school board’s Nov. 21 meeting. The school board already has policies in place for the selection of resource material for the libraries and the review of instructional material by students and parents.

The board has grappled for months with challenges from parents who claim some books aren’t appropriate for students and should be pulled from the high school library. A small group of parents challenged two books this spring: “All Boys Aren’t Blue” about growing up as a queer Black boy and “The Black Friend: On Being a Better White Person,” which reflects author Frederick Joseph’s experiences with racism. The books went through the review process in place and were not removed.

Director Dianne Ciabattoni opposed a proposed third level of the review process, which adds the option of appealing a decision from the review committee. She favors the two-step process that sets an informal review, then a formal one, without an appeal.

“No one is happy with the three steps. I think three steps is too much,” Ciabattoni said.

Director Tony Bompiani, board president, said the current book review process is not working. As an example, he pointed to the book “All Boys Aren’t Blue” because of its graphic sexual content.

“We’ve had books go under the radar. Something is missing (in the process),” Bompiani said.

He supports a policy for library books that are not connected to the curriculum.

“Extreme sexual content should not be allowed,” Bompiani said.

Director Jennifer Bretz agrees with Bompiani.

“We have to have faith in our parents. ‘All Boys Aren’t Blue’ — it disgusted everybody,” Bretz said.

Director Jeanne Smith said there are separate policies for library books and curriculum materials. Those objecting can opt out of using that source, Smith said. Library books can widen a student’s perspective, expose them to different cultures and lifestyles, she said.

Krisha DiMascio, district solicitor, said the big issue is in purchasing books, but it is not realistic to know what is in every book that is selected for the libraries.

The books are chosen for purchase based on several factors, including how they support the curriculum, said Beth McGuire, the librarian at Wendover Middle School and the district’s library chairperson. McGuire also said she relies upon professional reviews of the books from organizations such as the American Library Association and the School Library Journal.

“I have no confidence in the ALA,” Bompiani said.

Superintendent Tammy Wolicki said she was concerned about a process that would allow one person to have a book removed.

“Who makes the decision what is sexually explicit? It still has to be one person’s judgment … someone’s opinion,” Wolicki said.

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