I'M JESSICA VAUGHN, CHAIR OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE SERVE MORE THAN 200,000 STUDENTS, INCLUDING CHILDREN STARTING WITH OUR EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS AND CONTINUING WITH ADULTS THROUGH OUR WORKFORCE PROGRAMS. I'M KAREN PEREZ, THE SCHOOL BOARD'S VICE-CHAIR. OUR DISTRICT IS THE 7th LARGEST IN AMERICA AND OUR TEAM IS MADE UP OF 24,000 PEOPLE WORKING AT CLOSE TO 250 SITES ACROSS THE COUNTY. OUR DISTRICT IS DIVERSE AND DEDICATED. OUR BOARD MEETINGS ARE HELD IN OUR BOARD AUDITORIUM ON SELECT TUESDAYS AT 4 P.M. THE BEST WAY TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY IS TO INVOLVE YOU, THE PUBLIC, IN WHAT WE DO. YOU ARE WELCOME TO MEET OR E-MAIL ANY OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND FOLLOW OUR DISTRICT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS ARE COVERED LIVE BY HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOLS TV ON SPECTRUM 635 AND FRONTIER CHANNEL 32.
MEETINGS ARE ALSO STREAMED LIVE ON OUR WEBSITE AT HillsboroughSchools.org. CLOSED CAPTIONING IS PROVIDED ON ALL BROADCASTS AND PAST MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR ONLINE ARCHIVE. WE ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY. WE'LL INCLUDE TIME FOR AUDIENCE COMMENTS BEFORE WE ADDRESS OUR BUSINESS ITEMS. OUR AGENDA AND ANY SUPPORTING MATERIALS CAN BE VIEWED ONLINE IN ADVANCE. THEY ARE POSTED SEVEN DAYS BEFORE EACH MEETING ON OUR WEBSITE AT HillsboroughSchools.org. OUR VISION IS PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE AND THAT MEANS ALL STUDENTS EVERY DAY. TODOS LOS ESTUDIANTES, TODOS LOS DIAS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN EDUCATION. WITH YOUR HELP, WE ARE MAKING DECISIONS THAT SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE. Jessica Vaughn: THE BOARD MEETING OF JUNE 17, 2025, IS CALLED TO ORDER.
MEMBER PEREZ WILL NOW LEAD US IN A MOMENT OF REFLECTION FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. BEFORE I START, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE DR. McNEALY, A 13-YEAR ALACHUA COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER. NOW, FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF COUNCILWOMAN GWEN HENDERSON, A 31-YEAR EDUCATOR HERE AT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. GWEN WAS MORE THAN A RESPECTED PUBLIC SERVANT; SHE WAS A LIFELONG EDUCATOR AND A CORNERSTONE OF OUR DISTRICT FAMILY. GWEN BEGAN HER CAREER AS A BUSINESS EDUCATION TEACHER AT SLIGH JUNIOR HIGH. THEN PROGRESS VILLAGE JUNIOR HIGH. BEFORE MOVING TO JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL IN 2000 WHERE HER LEADERSHIP, KINDNESS, AND TIRELESS DEDICATION MADE AN IMPACT ON STUDENTS AND STAFF AND MEMBERS ALIKE. MOST RECENTLY, GWEN SERVED AS THE DISTRICT RESOURCE TEACHER IN ADULT EDUCATION WHERE SHE EMBODY COMPASSION IN HELPING ADULTS RECLAIM PATHWAYS TO PROSPERITY THROUGH EDUCATION.
WE SHARE IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND HER FAMILY'S SORROW IN HER RECENT PASSING AND KNOW THAT HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO EDUCATION AND TAMPA WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN. NOW, PLEASE STAND WITH ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, CO-CHAIR PEREZ. WE HAVE NO WITHDRAWN ITEMS TODAY. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION FROM MEMBER GRAY AND A SECOND FROM MEMBER COMBS.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT. WE HAVE ONE SET OF MINUTES TO BE APPROVED TODAY, JUNE 2, 2025, SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
I HAVE A MOTION BY MEMBER PEREZ AND A SECOND BY MEMBER GRAY. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE WHEN YOUR LIGHTS APPEAR. AND THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. BOARD MEMBERS, I'D LIKE TO GO OVER THE FORMAT OF TODAY'S MEETING. AS A REMINDER, WE ARE A NONPARTISAN BOARD WHO BELIEVE ALL CHILDREN CAN BE EMPOWERED TO LEARN TO SUCCEED AND OUR DECISIONS WILL BE MADE WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING. TO PAVE THE WAY FOR EFFICIENT AGENDA STATEMENTS AND QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK WITH 30 SECONDS FOR FINAL THOUGHTS. AFTERWARDS, THE SUPERINTENDENT CAN RESPOND. IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS, YOU'RE ASKED TO GET BACK IN THE QUEUE.
MEMBER PEREZ WILL NOW READ THE BOARD GUIDELINES. Karen Perez: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AS WE BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING, PLEASE ALLOW ME TO QUICKLY REVIEW THE FORMAT OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES. THERE ARE SPEAKERS IN THE ROOM BEHIND ME THAT ALLOW BOARD MEMBERS TO HEAR THE MEETING UPON STEPPING AWAY FROM THE DAIS. THIS MEETING CAN BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING ON LIVE WEBCASTS, ON CABLE TV, AND ON VIDEO MONITORS HERE IN THE AUDITORIUM. IT CAN ALSO BE VIEWED WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING ON ONLINE VIDEO ARCHIVE. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. WE HAVE ONE ITEM SCHEDULED FOR TIME CERTAIN AT 6 P.M. WE HAVE EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT INPUT. NOW WE'LL START WITH OUR RECOGNITION. WE START WITH A 01, RECOGNITION OF JUNETEENTH NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE DAY, JUNE 19.
MEMBER WASHINGTON WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS RECOGNITION. Henry "Shake" Washington: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY. JUNETEENTH IS A RECOGNIZED FEDERAL HOLIDAY OFFICIALLY DESIGNATED ON JUNE THE 17th, 2021. IT COMMEMORATES THE END OF SLAVERY IN TEXAS AND HAS BEEN CELEBRATED BY BLACK AMERICANS SINCE THE LATE 1800s. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF JUNETEENTH IS AN IMPORTANT REMINDER OF THE FUNDAMENTAL MEANING OF FREEDOM IN OUR COUNTRY. JUNETEENTH IS A REMINDER OF THE RICH CULTURE THAT TRANSCENDS MUSIC, FOOD, AND STORYTELLING. JUNETEENTH IS AN EMPOWERING MOMENT OF OUR YOUTH TO CONNECT IN THE SHARED HISTORY AND TO UNITE IN A CELEBRATION OF EXPERIENCES. THE SCHOOL BOARD OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS PROYOU HAD TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY.
Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU, MEMBER WASHINGTON. NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO BOARD COMMENT. THE BOARD WELCOMES COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS AND VALUES YOUR INPUT TO THE BOARD. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSES TO YOUR COMMENTS, OUR STAFF WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND KEEP OUR BOARD INFORMED ABOUT THE RESPONSES. OUR SCHOOL BOARD RESPECTS THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING YOUR TIME TO BE HERE. HOWEVER, IT IS REQUESTED THAT WHEN YOU ADDRESS THE BOARD, COMMENTS ARE NOT DIRECTED PERSONALLY AGAINST A BOARD MEMBER OR STAFF MEMBER BUT RATHER DIRECTED AT THE ISSUES. ANY BEHAVIOR INTENDED TO INTERRUPT THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THIS MEETING WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. OUR CIVILITY POLICY IS IN PLACE. WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE.
THIS AFTERNOON, EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. REMINDER THAT YOUR THREE MINUTES START WHEN YOU BEGIN SPEAKING. WHEN THERE ARE 30 SECONDS LEFT, YOU'LL SEE A YELLOW LIGHT ON THE LECTERN. A RED LIGHT AND A CHIME WILL INDICATE WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. I WILL NOW CALL UP THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS. MARK KLUTHO, LARGO. WE HAVE 7.3, WINDOW TINTING. OH, YOU NEED THAT ON THE WINDOWS ON THE BUILDING ORIENTED INCORRECTLY ABSOLUTELY. AND THEN 7.08, EIGHT SITES MAJOR REPAIRS AND RENOVATIONS OH, YEAH. THIS IS WHAT ALL BUILDINGS SHOULD LOOK LIKE. THERE'S ONLY ONE COLOR. ONLY ONE COLOR. THIS IS ABOUT A DEVELOPMENT THAT SAYS SUSTAINABLE. AND AS WINSTON CHURCH HILL SAID, WE SHAPE OUR BUILDINGS, THEREAFTER THEY SHAPE US. AND HERE IN CALIFORNIA, THEY HAVE THIS HOSPITAL BASE RENEWABLE MICROGRID AND IT'S THE LARGEST RENEWABLE ENERGY INNOVATION IN HEALTH CARE, LIKE WHERE I GO DOWN AT BAY PINES, THE SOLAR COLLECTORS ARE DEDICATING JUST FOR THAT HOSPITAL, NOT FED INTO THE GRID.
YOU DON'T LINE LOSSES. AND HERE THE DIEOFF. THIS IS WHAT YOUR SCHOOLS DO, KILL THE MANATEES. IT'S CALLED CORRELATION. YOU MAKE YOUR STUPID BUILDINGS THAT, AMONG OTHER THINGS, ARE CAUSING THE MELTING OF THE GLACIERS, THE KILLING OF THE MANATEES. IT'S GOING TO BE A SAD, SAD FUTURE. OF COURSE, WE'RE GOING TO NEED THE CHILDREN WORKING THOSE JOBS THAT GOVERNOR DEFUROR AND TRUMP WANT TO GET RID OF. ALL THOSE IMMIGRANTS, THE CRIMINALS, THE TERRIBLE CRIMINALS THEY HAVE TO GET RID OF THOSE. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS LILY. I'M A RESIDENT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, A PARENT OF A CHILD IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS, A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM AND PROFESSIONAL PREPUBLICATION BOOK REVIEWER. THIS IS MY SON'S COPY OF ENTANGO. CHEWED ON, TAPED TOGETHER. HE PRETTY MUCH TAUGHT HIMSELF TO READ THROUGH HIS INTEREST IN THIS BOOK.
TRUE STORY ABOUT PENGUINS WHO MADE A NEST TOGETHER AND ADOPTED AND HATCHED AN EGG. TRUE STORY. PART OF A LONG LIST OF BOOKS THAT MEDIA SPECIALISTS ARE WASTING TIME AND MONEY REVIEWING. I'M NOT HERE AT MY FIRST SCHOOL BOARD MEETING TO TALK ONLY ABOUT BOOKS. I KNOW FIRSTHAND BUDGETS HAVE BEEN CUT TO PARAPROFESSIONAL STAFFING THAT GIVE KIDS ACCESS TO AN EQUITABLE EDUCATION. THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH BUS DRIVERS BECAUSE THEY ARE PAID SO LITTLE SO KIDS KNOW NOT TO EXPECT TO GET TO SCHOOL ON TIME. STUDENTS ARE MISSING INSTRUCTION TIME, MISSING MEALS AND LOSING FAITH IN A SYSTEM THAT'S SUPPOSED TO SUPPORT THEIR EDUCATION BUT CAN'T GET THEM TO THE BUILDING ROUTINELY. YET THIS BOARD IS SPENDING HOURS AND DISTRICT DOLLARS I WISH WENT TO THE ISSUES ON PERFECTLY NORMAL BOOKS. BOOKS NO PARENT IN THE DISTRICT HAVE CHALLENGED. EVEN IF YOUR BOSSES IN TALLAHASSEE HAVE LITERALLY TOLD YOU NOT TO FOLLOW IT OR TO LISTEN TO PARENTS AT ALL.
THIS BOOK WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS, TWICE. COULD YOU BELIEVE WHEN A STATE BOARD MEMBER CALLED EMPLOYEES CHILD ABUSERS AND SUGGESTED FIRING EVERY LIBRARIAN AND HIRING PEOPLE WHO CAN READ. CRIMINAL CHARGES FOR FOLLOWING THE DISTRICT'S OWN REVIEW POLICY INSTEAD OF SUDDENLY LETTING RANDOM PEOPLE FROM OTHER COUNTIES DICTATE THE POLICY HERE. THEY ARE SAYING THIS IS A PARENTAL RIGHTS ISSUE. THE ONLY VIOLATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS IS CIRCUMVENTING POLICY -- PEOPLE WHO DO NOT LIVE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. IN CLOSING, YES, DON'T BAN BOOKS, BUT STOP LETTING PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIVE HERE, DON'T HAVE CHILDREN HERE AND DON'T CARE ABOUT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS DICTATE WHAT YOU PRIORITIZE. START LISTENING TO THE COUNTY YOU SERVE. THAT'S WHY WE'RE ALL HERE. WE WANT TO SEE CHANGE IN THE REAL PROBLEMS AFFECTING THE KIDS, UNDERFUNDING, UNDERSTAFFING, UNMET NEEDS, ALL THAT MATTERS MORE THAN SAVING MY SON FROM HIS FAVORITE PICTURE BOOK ABOUT PENGUINS.
I YIELD MY TIME. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS GIANNI HUNT. I AM A COMMITTED PARENT AND MEMBER OF MEGA5 VOICES, A CONCERNED CITIZEN GROUP IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I RETURN HERE TODAY TO AMPLIFY OUR VOICES AND TO SHARE OUR PERSPECTIVES. THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I WARNED THAT BANNING BOOKS BASED ON SUBJECTIVE OPINIONS IS A SLIPPERY SLOPE. I EXPLAINED AS A FORMER MILITARY INTELLIGENCE ANALYST AND TWO WAR VETERAN I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND INFORMATION IS RESTRICTED. WHEN KNOWLEDGE IS CONTROLLED, PEOPLE LOSE THEIR ABILITY TO THINK FREELY. THEY LOSE THE POWER TO QUESTION, TO CHALLENGE OPPRESSION AND TO SHAPE THEIR OWN FUTURES. KNOWLEDGE EMPOWERS WHILE CENSORSHIP RESTRICTS. THAT IS WHY WE MUST REMAIN VIGILANT AND DEMAND TRANSPARENCY, ENSURING OPEN ACCESS TO BOOKS, IDEAS AND EDUCATION, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT POLICY; IT'S ABOUT PRESERVING LOCAL AUTONOMY AND FREEDOM FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
HISTORY HAS SHOWN US THAT SILENCING IDEAS DOES NOT PROTECT. IN FACT, IT LIMITS, IT EXCLUDES AND IT UNDERMINES THE VERY FOUNDATION OF LEARNING. IF BOOKS ARE BANNED DUE TO SEXUAL CONTENT, WHERE DOES IT END? WE ALREADY SEE THIS TYPE OF CENSORSHIP IS EXTENDING IN BOOKS ADDRESSING RACISM, PERSONAL IDENTITY, AND MENTAL HEALTH. MANY BOOKS CONTAINING SEXUAL THEMES WHEN TAKEN AS A WHOLE PROVIDE MEANINGFUL LESSONS, ADDRESS REAL-LIFE ISSUES AND HELP READERS NAVIGATE COMPLEX TOPICS. BANNING THEM ELIMINATES IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS ABOUT CONSENT, RELATIONSHIP, AND PERSONAL SAFETY. ADDITIONALLY, LET'S NOT IGNORE SOME OF THE MOST FREQUENTLY BANNED BOOKS FEATURE BLACK, BROWN, LGBTQ+ CHARACTERS AND MANY SURVIVORS OF ABUSE. CENSORING THE STORIES SILENCES LIVED EXPERIENCES AND PREVENTS READERS FROM SEEING THEMSELVES IN LITERATURE. CLASSIC LITERATURE AND CONTEMPORARY WORKS EXPLORE HUMAN EXPERIENCES TO INCLUDE SEXUALITY. REMOVING THE BOOKS DIMINISHES CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING AND PREVENTS CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF SOCIETY'S EVOLVING PERSPECTIVES. YES, WE BELIEVE IN PARENTAL CHOICE AND PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN, TOO, BUT IT IS FAMILIES THAT SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO DECIDE WHAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR CHILDREN, RATHER THAN A GOVERNMENT OR A SCHOOL BOARD IMPOSING BLANKET RESTRICTIONS.
THIS IS WHY RESOURCES LIKE BOOK REVIEWS AND AGE RECOMMENDATIONS ALREADY ASSIST THE PARENTS. RATHER THAN WASTING HALF A MILLION DOLLARS ON BANNING BOOKS, SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES COULD USE THOSE RESOURCES TO EXPAND THEIR SUPPORT FOR PARENTS, TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE FOR FAMILIES ON APPROPRIATE READING LEVELS AND CONTEXT. TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU ONCE AGAIN URGING YOU, BE BRAVE. THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR STUDENTS, REJECT BOOK BANS AND AFFIRM YOUR COMMITMENT TO REEDUCATION AND INTELLECTUAL GROWTH FOR ALL STUDENTS BECAUSE KNOWLEDGE IS NOT SOMETHING TO BE FEARED. IT IS SOMETHING TO BE EMBRACED, PROTECTED, AND ACCESSIBLE TO ALL. THANK YOU. Jessica Vaughn: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. [INAUDIBLE] I AM, BUT I AM A LIBRARIAN AND FINISHED MY 8th YEAR IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND VERY PROUD TO WORK IN THIS DISTRICT. I'M SORRY BUT THE FORMER SPEAKER SAID IT SO WELL. I AM PROUD AND I DRIVE FROM MANATEE COUNTY EVERY DAY.
THANK YOU ALL AND MANY OF YOU HAVE COME TO MY LIBRARY. I'M VERY HONORED THAT MY OUTDOOR MAKER SPACE IS IN THE BOARDROOM. I DID NOT KNOW UNTIL I ARRIVED TODAY. I NOTICED AND PAID ATTENTION TO THE MOTTO THAT WE PREPARE STUDENTS FOR LIFE, EVERY STUDENT, EVERY DAY, THAT'S WHO I'M HERE TO SPEAK FOR. I'VE HAD STUDENTS THAT ARE REPRESENTED IN THE BOOKS ON THEIR LIST. I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU, THIS LIST WAS CULLED BEFORE THE EQUALITY FLORIDA SETTLEMENT WHICH MANNY DIEZ HIMSELF SIGNED. RATHER THAN BEING ILLITERATE, YOU HAVE THE MOST EDUCATED AND HIGHLY CERTIFIED STAFF IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THERE IS A REASON HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS ON SO MANY STATE BOARDS. OUR LIBRARIANS ARE ON THE BOARD FOR THE NEXT MEDIA SPECIALIST CERTIFICATION TEST WHICH IS NOW UNDER REVIEW. WE ALSO HAD LIBRARIANS ON THE BOARD THAT APPROVED THE TRAINING THAT ALL LIBRARIANS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA GO THROUGH.
THERE IS A REASON. WE KNOW OUR RIGHTS. THAT'S WHY WE DID NOT FOLD IN FEAR. WE STOOD UP FOR OUR STUDENTS. YOU REPRESENT THOSE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AND THE VOTERS IN THIS COUNTY AND THEY HAVE DEFEATED PEOPLE THAT WANT TO TAKE AWAY THE RIGHTS. YOU HAVE YOUR BOARD SEATS BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE HEADED IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. I WANT YOU TO KNOW BECAUSE OF THE DECISION ANNOUNCED TO PULL THE BOOKS, THERE ARE FIVE DISTRICTS WHO HAVE DECIDED TO DO THE SAME. EVEN THOUGH THAT IS A VIOLATION OF OUR DISTRICT POLICY AND THE STATE LAW SAYS IF WE VIOLATE DISTRICT POLICY, WE ARE VIOLATING STATE LAW. YOU NEED TO CHANGE THE DISTRICT POLICY IF WE'RE GOING TO PULL BOOKS AGAINST POLICY. THEY CAN GO THROUGH THE REVIEWS BUT THEY -- JUST WANT TO MAKE A POINT ABOUT THE EQUALITY FLORIDA SETTLEMENT. THERE IS NOTHING INAPPROPRIATE ABOUT THAT BOOK AND AS SHE MENTIONED IN TANGO MAKES THREE.
CHRISTIAN HUGGING LINE WAS ACTUALLY PUT BACK ON THE SHELVES IN MANATEE COUNTY BUT YET REMAINS ON THE STATE LIST BECAUSE THE STATE WILL NOT CORRECT THE LIST. ORANGE COUNTY AND ALACHUA ARE KNOWN FOR MORE THAN A HUNDRED TITLES PUT BACK ON LIBRARY SHELVES BUT THE STATE LIST DOES NOT AFFECT THAT. CHRISTIAN THE HUGGING LINE IS ONE OF THOSE. I KNOW THAT BECAUSE I RESIDE IN MANATEE COUNTY. SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY CAN BE DISCUSSED AND CANNOT BE ELIMINATED. NEVER MIND THE FACT THAT NO STATE LAW IN FLORIDA APPLIES TO LIBRARIES. THERE IS NO MENTION OF LIBRARIES. IT WAS ALL ABOUT CLASSROOMS, AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE POLICY WE HAVE. FINALLY, STAMPED AND OUT OF DARKNESS ARE TWO OTHER BOOKS THAT SHOULD NOT BE ELIMINATED. THEY ARE HISTORY. THEY ARE RELEVANT. IF YOU HEAR PASSAGES TODAY, PLEASE REMEMBER THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE MILLER TEST IN THE UNITED STATES AND WHY SCOTUS DECIDED THE MILLER TEST DETERMINES PORNOGRAPHY.