Culpeper Star Exponent: “After reviewing 11 challenged books found in certain school libraries in the Bedford County Public Schools system, BCPS administrators and book review committees decided not to remove any of the challenged titles from school libraries.
At the November School Board meeting, some parents called for the removal of certain book titles in public school libraries, citing what one parent — Amy Snead, with the group Moms for Liberty — called “concerning” content such as LGBTQ+ representation, sexual language and substance use. Most of the challenged books are written by authors of color, or LGBTQ+ individuals.
In response to the book challenges, BCPS staff reviewed library inventory in district high schools and found 11 of the titles among high school libraries.
In compliance with the schools’ book review policies, committees consisting of the school media specialist/librarian, the high school principal and any teachers who used a challenged book as part of their curriculum — such as Toni Morrison’s “Beloved,” which is part of an advanced English class — as well as Director of Curriculum and Instruction Shawn Trosper reviewed each book.
In all 11 cases, Trosper said, the committees unanimously recommended keeping the titles in school libraries, seeing no need to pull them.”