The Brandywine Community Schools Board of Education could order an investigation into the donation of $5,000 in books to the district by a non-profit. We Need Diverse Books approved the donation for the district this year after a teacher applied for it. However, at a meeting this past week, school board President Thomas Payne said the application violated district policy because it wasn’t approved by the superintendent or board.
“I would recommend that we halt adding any of these additional books to the library as well as remove the donated books from the library until an investigation is completed,” Payne said.
Payne said the district’s attorney could conduct the investigation. Superintendent Travis Walker said the books have already started arriving.
“We actually have some materials, but they didn’t make it to the shelves,” Walker said. “So, nothing from the grant has been added to the shelves. It is not in our library right now. We had them, they were not put on shelves yet. We were requesting more. I’ve asked for us to not request those until we sort this all out.”
Social studies teacher Abilyn Janke sought donation of the books after the board this year voted to suspend books deemed explicit from its libraries. She told us last month her understanding was that books could still be donated to the district. The board of education will seek an estimate from the district attorney on the cost of an investigation. It could hold a special meeting to vote on an investigation once that estimate is available.
