ASHLAND — The Ashland City Schools Board of Education voted against reappointing a public library trustee for another seven-year term, sparking a fiery debate where board member Brandon Wells threatened his resignation.
The board voted 3-2 against reappointing current library trustee Stefanie Hunn for a seven-year term, just months after parents, pastors, and community members packed library board meetings asking to relocate or remove books they considered pornographic.
After the vote, board member Brandon Wells, who voted for Hunn’s reappointment, said he “can’t stand for” the decision he called “an embarrassment.”
“We’re not gonna let a civics teacher — someone who is highly qualified, somebody who is a valued church member in this community — but we’re not gonna approve this person because we want to put somebody with our own agenda onto this library board,” he said.
“Shame on you, shame on all of you. At this point I’m considering resigning from this board.”
In June, the library board voted against removing a handful of books about puberty, periods, and sex, saying that doing so would be censorship, but they did move one book that was improperly categorized for juveniles.
In September, the board decided against relocating the remaining books, saying they were properly categorized in the library.
It was these decisions that moved board members Pam Mowry and Gina Deppert to vote against Hunn’s reappointment, they said.
“I’ve listened to everyone who’s reached out to us and I support at least moving those documents to perhaps a parental consent area to the library, but as I understand it that hasn’t even (happened), maybe some have moved but some have not,” Deppert said.
Board member John Teevan also voted against Hunn’s reappointment but did not give a reason why at the meeting.
Board president Zack Truax, who voted for Hunn, said he has heard that the library conflict ended amicably from people on all sides of the issue.
“Did the library board handle it perfectly? Probably not, but I can raise my hand and say guilty as charged if I had handled every situation perfectly in my time on the board,” Truax said. “I’ve certainly made my fair share of mistakes. And I thought Ms. Hunn was well qualified.”
During the public comment section of Monday’s meeting, Ashland teacher and union leader Flory Mauriocourt asked the board to give a reason for their refusal to reappoint Hunn.
The board initially stayed silent, prompting Mauriocourt to come back up to the microphone and ask again.
“I’m assuming you voted no for a reason, so I think it would be good to know, for the community to know why you voted no. Don’t you think that’s reasonable? When I vote no for something I tell people why,” he said.
Truax then clarified that board members are not required to answer questions at meetings, and instead suggested that Mauriocourt email the board.
After Mauriocourt, community member Dianne Nelson spoke out against the current library board and the books.
“There are a huge majority of people who do not want these books in our libraries. They are inappropriate, they are smutty, they are filthy,” she said.
Following Monday’s vote, the board scheduled a work session for Nov. 29 to hear nominations for the now-vacant library trustee position. Also, Truax announced he would not be seeking re-election when his term ends in 2023.
