District Statement on Recent Media Donation 

STILLWATER, Minn. -- March 5, 2025 -- A community member recently donated funding for the purchase of more than 30 books to elementary media centers across the school district. As the books were being unpacked, district staff reported that one of the books contained an adult image that may be inappropriate for elementary school students.  Staff also raised concerns about two other donated books.  District administration pulled these books for review.

Before being reviewed by the district administration, all the other donated books had been placed on shelves in two of our buildings. There was no directive from the district to remove these books from the shelves. Instead, the district administration conducted a review of donated books that hadn’t been unpacked yet in another building. 

The administration has determined that the book containing an adult image, Grandad's Pride by Harry Woodgate, is inappropriate for elementary school students.  A second book, Call Me Max by Kyle Lukoff, also raises concerns given the age and maturity of the intended audience. As a result, both books will only be made available to students with parental permission. This approach allows for informed decision-making while ensuring continued availability.

Stillwater Area Public Schools is committed to providing students with access to a diverse selection of literature while also considering the age-appropriateness of potentially sensitive topics for the media center’s intended audience.  To that end, when considered as a whole, media center materials should: (1) enrich, support, or supplement the curriculum; (2) promote reading for pleasure by responding to a broad array of personal needs and interests of a diverse student body; (3) reflect the ages and maturity levels of students in the building in which the media center is located; (4) reflect artistic value, literary value, or educational significance; (5) promote critical thinking in in daily living or in areas of general importance to members of society, including, but not limited to, politics, science, history, religion, medicine, law, economics, or safety; or (6) promote an understanding of the views, triumphs, or struggles of others.  

Later this spring, the school board will consider a new policy that specifically addresses media center resources and includes standards for determining the selection of materials for the media center and for determining when materials should be removed from the media center.  Meanwhile, the district will continue to act consistent with state law.  Nothing in the law limits a school district’s authority to decline to shelve a book, or to remove or restrict access to a book, based on legitimate pedagogical concerns, including the appropriateness of potentially sensitive topics for the media center's intended audience. 

We appreciate our community’s engagement in this important discussion and remain committed to fostering a balanced and inclusive learning environment.