Contentious meeting draws a crowd as critics oppose changes and demand Trustee Olson’s resignation
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Contentious meeting draws a crowd as critics oppose changes and demand Trustee Olson’s resignation
REDLANDS, Calif. — The Redlands Unified School District board voted Tuesday to approve two revised policies that will shape how books and curriculum materials are reviewed for appropriateness. The changes have stirred months of intense community debate and come just two days before the start of the new school year.
The board last reviewed the book challenge process in March 2024 and broadly agreed at the time that the existing procedures were working well and supported access to diverse literature.
The board passed the first readings of amendments to Administrative Regulation 1312.2 and Board Policy 6000 on a 3-2 vote, with Trustees Michele Rendler, Candy Olson, and Jeannette Wilson in favor, and Melissa Ayala-Quintero and Patty Holohan opposed. The policies revise current procedures for challenging library books and instructional content and include language banning materials deemed “pervasively pornographic,” “sexually explicit,” or “blasphemous.”
An edit to the policy includes a rubric and definition of terms to guide committee members in judging a challenged book.
Superintendent Juan Cabral said the district will convene a committee of experts to finalize the rubric and definitions, allowing flexibility for future revisions. Under the new procedures, books flagged for sexual content can be temporarily removed from shelves while a district-level committee reviews the material. The board also approved an amendment to ensure complaints are reported to all board members, not just the president.
Final adoption will require a second vote.
A total of 54 speakers addressed agenda items, with most opposing the new policies. Critics raised concerns about censorship, legal risk, and the board’s overall priorities.
Several parents questioned whether the policy would limit their ability to guide their own child’s reading choices, while others noted the district’s shrinking budget.
“I don't want the government trying to take away the rights of parents who want their children to read freely,” one speaker said. “Your logic for censorship does not hold up.”
Another speaker questioned the board’s focus.
“I ask the board to focus. Stop this absurd, pointless revision. Our RUSD reserves just shrank by $20 million,” the speaker said. “You have nothing better to do than revise an entirely functional, preexisting policy?”
Others directly challenged Trustee Olson’s credibility in evaluating what material is appropriate, following recent allegations of her engagement with far-right content on Instagram.
“AR 1312 makes censorship of books easier, and you have a sitting board member that likes content like this and it informs her decisions,” said Valerie Taber, former school board candidate, holding up an Instagram post liked by Olson that featured a meme of a skeleton with a Nazi patch burning a Pride flag. “I don’t know how you can allow her to vote on this policy and not face litigation about this — because the intent is here.”
After months of debate and opposition, many of the parents, teachers, students, and community members who spoke said they are tired and feel unheard. Speakers were again limited to 45 seconds per comment card on an agenda item.
“Are you listening at all?” asked resident and member of Together for Redlands, Samantha Trad. “We are your community - students, parents, teachers and community members telling you don't do this. It is going to cost our school millions of dollars.”
In addition to public comments, the board received over 700 emails in opposition to the policy.
About a dozen speakers showed up in support. They challenged the current policy as inadequate. Dr. Dale Broome called the proposed rubric “reasonable” but said references to “contextual relevance” should be eliminated because it is “highly subjective.”
“What should be looked at more is, ‘Is there sexually graphic material that’s described in the book?’” he said.
Broome previously led an effort to place a school choice initiative on the 2022 California ballot. He and his wife, Susan, donated nearly $20,000 to fund Olson and Wilson’s campaigns during the 2024 election. Their household contributions accounted for roughly half of the individual donations received by the two candidates.
Calls for Olson’s resignation were also common during public comment, following the report by Together for Redlands on her social media activity, which included engagement with an alt-right Instagram account promoting racist, homophobic, and antisemitic content.
“As a school board member, Trustee Olson holds a position of trust and leadership over a diverse student body. By liking and sharing posts filled with racism, homophobia and ableism, she has broken that trust,” said one speaker. “Whether intentional or not, those actions send a message that hate has a place in our school — it does not.”
During board comments, Olson responded publicly to the controversy, calling the criticism a “massive hate campaign.”
“Just because I like a funny political meme from time to time does not mean I subscribe to all of the memes that are posted by that account,” she said. “Just because I like one slide out of a deck of 18 does not mean I like all slides, which is what's been...manufactured by assuming that I like every single slide. No, I do not like every slide."
Olson also claimed her nursing license had been “doxed” and accused her critics of launching a smear campaign because they disagree with her policy positions.
“I must be doing something right to have so many lies created about me,” she said. “I will continue to work toward protecting the innocence of children and bringing back high-quality education free from political bias.”
No other board members addressed the concerns about Olson’s social media use.
More coverage on the controversy here: https://www.communityforwardredlands.com/trustee-candy-olson-faces-resignation-demands-over-social-media-activity/
The board voted unanimously to extend Superintendent Juan Cabral’s contract by one year through June 2028, following an annual evaluation rating of “Above Average.”
The contract amendment also includes a 3% pay bump. However, Cabral said he would decline the raise "unless everyone else in the district gets one."
A statement that was met by applause from the audience.
The board also tabled a proposed update to the district’s volunteer policy after Olson and Wilson said they want parents to complete a training requirement. That proposal is expected to return for discussion at a future meeting.
Cabral shared a brief update on Measure D construction projects, noting that work will continue outside of school hours. A detailed presentation on completed and upcoming projects is scheduled for a future meeting.
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