Newly Hired Staff For Tennessee Textbook Commission: “We Will Uphold The Law”

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The Tennessee Conservative Staff –

The Tennessee textbook commission has hired its first staff in preparation for impending challenges to library books in the state’s public schools.

The commission, which has been an all-volunteer group, was given authority by the state legislature to make determinations regarding what books are made available to students in school libraries and which ones are not.

After Governor Bill Lee authorized $500,000 in the budget for the commission, along with another $55,000 for operational expenses, retired school librarian Lee Houston of Crossville was hired to serve as full-time staff as the executive director of the commission.

An administrative assistant was also hired, and the group is currently searching for a staff attorney.

Commission members are expecting recent legislative changes to a law regarding book challenges to bring an increase of cases that move to the level of the commission. Complaints can now be escalated to the commission if a school board fails to respond to them within 60 days.

The law also gives clearer guidelines as to what material is not considered appropriate for students. Material that “in whole or in part contains nudity, descriptions or depictions of sexual excitement, sexual conduct, excess violence, or sadomasochistic abuse” is not allowed.

Houston says she is prepared for the job, which she believes will primarily be focused on the Commission’s textbook adoption cycle, which is currently reviewing K-12 science materials. She notes that there are no pending book appeals.

“We have no book appeals before us right now, but as a commission, we will uphold the law,” Houston stated.