The meeting began with the acknowledgment of various student achievements and preparations for the upcoming school year but swiftly transitioned into a deeply issue concerning the district’s libraries. Two incidents of Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIP) were confirmed, and a previous meeting’s incomplete proceedings due to safety concerns were addressed with an apology from the president.

The focal point of contention was the school district’s policy for reviewing books in libraries, which had led to a series of public comments. Individuals from the community, including students and a high school junior, voiced their perspectives on the accessibility of resources in public libraries to educate on sensitive topics. Contrasting viewpoints were presented, with some emphasizing the need for educational material on consent and trauma, while others detailed the potential harm and triggering effects of explicit literary content.

The issue of freedom of speech was a recurring theme, with multiple students expressing distress over threats directed at the school librarian and the negative impact on the school community. They urged the board to protect the freedom to read and the First Amendment rights that could be violated through book banning. These concerns were echoed by a community member and the executive director of a library association who cautioned against the removal of materials deemed “educationally unsuitable” or “pervasively vulgar.”

During the public comment section, a plea came from Morin McWeeny, who supported the librarian, Martha Hixon, and criticized the campaign against her. Reverend Gregory Quinland highlighted age-appropriate concerns, and John Drow voiced issues with sexually explicit material. Denise Hixon (no relation to Martha Hixon) criticized the board’s enforcement of its complaint policy, while Amy Barrett and Louise Walen defended the educational value of the book “Let’s Talk About It.”

The meeting saw strong advocacy for intellectual freedom, with Kathy Blon of the League of Women Voters and Steven Lefley, a Lebanon Township resident, speaking against book bans and for the protection of school personnel. Members of the New Jersey Association of School Librarians, including Beth Raph and Gabrielle Ceri, championed high school librarian Martha Hixon’s professionalism and commitment to intellectual freedom.

Amidst the discussions, Eva Jit Elliott, former president of the New Jersey Association of School Librarians, addressed the board regarding the harassment of Martha Hixon by a spouse of a school board member, calling for support according to the code of ethics for school board members. Terry Beck and Lee Mack raised concerns about explicit book content, while Dan Zamansky defended books with LGBTQ+ themes.

The meeting also touched on the issue of diverse and inclusive education. Speakers such as Max Moore and Jordan Jer commended books for their inclusive content and support to students, while others like Austin Tarby and Guy Citron debated the educational value versus potential harm of explicit material.

The board’s agenda items included discussions on overnight field trips, weather-related school closings, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives. The ad hoc committee reported on the strengthening of DEI activities in schools, and a comprehensive legislative update was provided. The meeting proceeded to address standardized testing and common assessments, with concerns raised over the impact on students’ GPAs and the need for fair testing procedures.

In the finance section, John Melick updated the budget process for the upcoming year, with discussions on transportation bids, health fund increases, and project updates, including the Polytech project and associated safety concerns. The policy and school security agenda saw the review of several policies, including those related to homeless children and tuition rates. The possibility of transitioning from Strauss Esmay to NJ SBA for policy recommendations was supported by the committee.

The Personnel agenda included an executive session to discuss employee matters, and a motion for the policy and security committee to review communications directed at staff was agreed upon.