Urbandale Schools Pause Removal of Books Referencing Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation
Urbandale schools in Iowa have decided to halt the removal of books from its libraries and classrooms that reference gender identity and sexual orientation. This decision comes after the district flagged 374 books for removal in response to a new Iowa law that bans books in schools that depict sex acts. However, Superintendent Rosalie Daca stated in an email that there are still 64 books, including some classic novels, that will not be allowed due to the new law.
The law, known as Senate File 496, was passed by the Republican-led Legislature earlier this year. It prohibits schools from providing instruction about gender identity or sexual orientation before seventh grade and bans books in schools that depict sex acts. The district initially believed that this included books with LGBTQ-related themes, leading to the flagging of 374 books for removal.
However, Urbandale has now decided to focus on books that specifically depict sex acts and will not remove books on the list with LGBTQ-related themes. The revised list now includes 64 titles, including classics such as “The Kite Runner,” “The Handmaid’s Tale,” and “Brave New World,” as well as more recent books like “Gender Queer,” “All Boys Aren’t Blue,” and “The Hate U Give.”
Superintendent Daca apologized to anyone who felt marginalized by the district’s initial attempt to comply with the new state law. She stated that the district will wait for guidance from the Iowa Department of Education before making any further decisions regarding the flagged books.
The Urbandale School Board recently held a closed session to discuss the performance of an employee, although it is unclear if this was related to the book list. Randy Evans, executive director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, expressed concerns about the closed session and urged the district to consult with legal counsel to ensure compliance with open meetings law.
Board member Daniel Gutmann hopes that Urbandale’s experience serves as a cautionary tale for other districts considering similar actions. He emphasized the importance of open and transparent conversations in front of the public when it comes to complying with anti-LGBTQ legislation.
The district’s decision to pause the removal of books referencing gender identity and sexual orientation was influenced by student efforts, support from Annie’s Foundation, alumni letters, former staff, and other school board members. Gutmann expressed satisfaction that 320 books were saved as a result of these efforts.
The district will continue to review its libraries and classrooms to ensure compliance with the new law. Any removed books will be stored in a central location.Urbandale Schools Pause Removal of Books Referencing Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation
Urbandale schools in Iowa have decided to hit pause on the removal of books from its libraries and classrooms that reference gender identity and sexual orientation. This decision comes after the district flagged 374 books for removal in response to a new Iowa law that bans books in schools that are not considered “age-appropriate” due to their depiction of sex acts.
However, Superintendent Rosalie Daca stated in an email to staff and families that there are still 64 books, including some classic novels, that will not be allowed in the district due to the new law. The law, known as Senate File 496, prohibits books in schools that depict sex acts, as defined by existing Iowa law.
The law also prohibits schools from providing instruction about gender identity or sexual orientation before seventh grade, which led Urbandale officials to believe that books on these topics should be removed from classrooms. However, the district has now decided to focus on books that specifically depict sex acts, rather than those with LGBTQ-related themes.
The revised list of books to be removed still includes titles such as “The Kite Runner,” “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Brave New World,” “Beloved,” “The Color Purple,” and “Native Son.” It also includes newer books like “Gender Queer,” “All Boys Aren’t Blue,” and “The Hate U Give,” which have faced backlash from Republican lawmakers.
Urbandale Superintendent Rosalie Daca apologized to anyone who felt marginalized by the district’s initial attempt to comply with the new state law. She acknowledged the potential negative impact on staff and students and expressed her sincere apology.
The district’s decision to pause the removal of books referencing gender identity and sexual orientation will continue until they receive guidance from the Iowa Department of Education. The district has instructed teachers to review their libraries and classrooms and remove any books on the list if they have them. Removed books will be stored in a central location.
The Urbandale School Board recently held a closed session to discuss the performance of an employee, but it is unclear if this meeting was related to the book list. Randy Evans, executive director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, expressed concern about the correlation between the closed session and the district’s response to the new law. He urged the district to consult with legal counsel to ensure compliance with open meetings law.
Board member Daniel Gutmann hopes that Urbandale’s experience serves as a cautionary tale for other districts considering exceeding the scope of anti-LGBTQ legislation. He emphasized the importance of thoughtful, open, and transparent conversations in front of the public to address compliance with the new law.
In the end, Gutmann credited the district’s change of course to the efforts of students, Annie’s Foundation, alumni, former staff, and other school board members. He expressed satisfaction that 320 books were saved from removal.
The district will await guidance from the Iowa Department of Education before making further decisions regarding the book list.
Phillip Sitter covers suburban growth and development for the Des Moines Register. He can be reached via email at psitter@gannett.com and is on Twitter @pslifeisabeauty.
What efforts and individuals were influential in the decision to pause the removal of books referencing gender identity and sexual orientation in Urbandale schools
Expressed regret for any harm caused by the district’s initial decision to flag books for removal and stated that the district will wait for guidance from the Iowa Department of Education before making further decisions on the flagged books.
The Urbandale School Board recently held a closed session to discuss the performance of an employee, but it is unclear if this was related to the book list. Randy Evans, executive director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, expressed concerns about the closed session and urged the district to consult with legal counsel to ensure compliance with open meetings law.
Board member Daniel Gutmann hopes that Urbandale’s experience serves as a warning to other school districts faced with similar situations. He emphasized the importance of open and transparent conversations in complying with anti-LGBTQ legislation.
The decision to pause the removal of books referencing gender identity and sexual orientation in Urbandale schools was influenced by student efforts, support from Annie’s Foundation, alumni letters, former staff, and other school board members. Gutmann expressed satisfaction that 320 books were saved as a result of these efforts.
The district will continue to review its libraries and classrooms to ensure compliance with the new law. Any removed books will be stored in a central location. Superintendent Daca emphasized the importance of listening to feedback from students, families, and the community as the district navigates this challenging situation.
