SAN ANTONIO — North East ISD is determining if hundreds of books in campus libraries are appropriate for students, something parents say the district shouldn’t be doing by using a politician's list.

What You Need To Know

  • North East ISD in San Antonio has removed 414 books from its various libraries for review following a statewide inquiry by Republican state Rep. Matt Krause

  • However, the district says that not all of the books removed for review will be banned from its libraries and 215 of the books have been reviewed and returned

  • Parents and students accuse the district of kowtowing to Rep. Krause's inquiry, but district leaders say the review process is not politically motivated 

  • The district says the review process has been undertaken “out of an abundance of caution” and actually began prior to Krause’s inquiry

 

Liana Benavides is the wife and mother of two teenage girls. She isn’t thrilled with San Antonio's North East ISD.

“I don’t think the district should have jumped in on this one,” said Benavides. “We’re one of the first in San Antonio to pay this list any credence and start reviewing library books.”

Benavides is talking about the list of about 850 books Republican state Rep. Matt Krause is calling for school districts to review. Looking at the list, she doesn’t think flagging these titles will protect students.

“They are exposed to it in the real world all around them every day,” Benavides said. “There’s just no way you can avoid LGBTQ issues, abortion issues or women’s rights or what happens to minority groups. Why even teach history anymore?”

RELATED: North East ISD removes hundreds of books for review following lawmaker’s inquiry

NEISD’s superintendent says the review process actually started last year when a book with racially insensitive illustrations was brought to his attention. This list, he says, was just a starting point for an overall review of age-appropriate content on campuses.

“While the Krause list may be politically motivated, our review is not,” NEISD Superintendent Dr. Sean Maika said.

But that didn’t stop students, parents and teachers from voicing their concerns at the final school board meeting of the year.

“If we hide students from anything that might make them uncomfortable, we are hiding the truth from them,” one student said at the meeting.

NEISD clarified it has 414 books that were on Krause’s list. So far 252 books have been reviewed and 215 books are back on the shelves. Also, 37 books are being replaced because they are damaged or outdated.

“We have 20 books that were sitting on an elementary campus that were determined [not] age appropriate,” Anthony Jarrett, NEISD chief instructional officer, said. “Those has been moved up to a middle or high school.” 

More than 160 books are still left to review. The district says they intend to review all 750,000 library books for age appropriateness in the future. 

Benavides feels her kids are being used as political pawns. She says if she wanted her girls' reading options limited, she would have asked for it. 

“I’ve always had that right as a parent,” Benavides said. “I don’t need someone else telling me how to do my job.”