RAPID CITY, S.D. – The RCAS Board of Education decided Tuesday night to delay a decision on the destruction of books being pulled from classes.
RCAS says “The books are being pulled from the reading list for English 12 classes.” There are five different books up for destruction on the list of surplus items.
The school board’s agenda said the district regularly discards items it sees as unnecessary or not suitable. However, of the surplus items listed earlier this week, only the books had a “to destroy” listing.
Over a dozen members of the public expressed their thoughts at the beginning of the meeting, with the majority stating the controversial books should not be destroyed, although some members expressed concern over the content.
Board President Kate Thomas was joined by the majority of the board in saying that the decision to place books as surplus was one that was made my district administrators, not by the Board of Education. She cautioned that it was not due to personal beliefs by members of the board.
The RCAS Board of Education says they will discuss with legal counsel before deciding what to do with the books in question.
