Redlands Unified Board passes controversial book removal policy

REDLANDS, Calif. — After months of contentious debate and hours of tense public discussion, the Redlands Unified School District Board of Education voted on Aug. 19 to approve a sweeping revision to its library materials complaint policy, creating a new process for challenging, and in some cases immediately removing, library and media center materials deemed inappropriate. 

The measure passed on a split vote, with Board Members Candy Olson, President Michele Rendler and Clerk Jeannette Wilson in favor while Vice President Patty Holohan and Board Member Melissa Ayala-Quintero opposed.

Why it matters: The new rules give parents, guardians, students, district residents and staff the ability to formally challenge books and other materials in school libraries. If the complaint alleges sexual content, the material can be pulled from shelves while it is under review. 

Supporters argue the policy protects children from explicit material while critics warn it will lead to censorship, restrict access to diverse literature and expose the district to costly legal challenges.

Details: For general complaints under updated Administrative Regulation 1312.2, the policy outlines a multi-step review process involving school and district committees. 

For books alleged to contain “pornography, erotica, graphic descriptions or depictions of sexual acts and/or sexual violence,” the process is significantly accelerated. The principal must remove books that fall within this category within three business days, triggering a district-level review and, if appealed, a public hearing before the board.

A standardized review rubric and definitions list created by a board-appointed committee will guide all evaluations.

Background: The board first considered changes to the book challenge process in March 2024 but found the existing policy effective. The current revisions emerged in 2025 amid heightened national debates over parental rights, book bans and the role of public schools in regulating content.

In August 2025, the first reading of the policy passed in a 3–2 vote. More than 700 emails were sent to the board opposing the policy and public meetings drew dozens of speakers, most opposing the changes. 

What they’re saying: The meeting featured emotional testimony from both supporters and opponents of the policy. A total of individual 72 speakers addressed items on the agenda at the Aug. 19 meeting. 

“I'm just really happy that we finally passed a book challenge policy that has been nearly three years coming and started out by a courageous young student…Children and adolescents are harmed by consuming sexually explicit materials, and I'm really proud of this moment and happy that we can do something, start heading in the right direction, focus on education,” Olson said after the vote. 

“I would like to thank the board…for standing strong on this issue,” said one public speaker in support of the policy. “We have to make sure that our kids are protected. We have to restore some confidence in this community.”

“​​I've been a Redlands resident for 25 years…This isn't about targeting authors; it's about protecting children,” one resident said. “Jeanette and Candy ran on this issue. Their communities backed them and, thankfully, they won.”

Opponents, including board Vice President Holohan, argued the policy disproportionately targets LGBTQ-themed books and undermines student access to diverse perspectives.

“What I find really upsetting about all of this is that certain people are trying to claim that it has nothing to do with LGBTQ students, yet all the books that they brought up…do center on LGBTQ experiences,” said Holahan. “You can say you support every student, you support all children, and your actions don’t show that.”

“I've been a part of RUSD my entire childhood,” said another speaker. “This ban will only foster more division and conflict and direct hate towards marginalized people in the district, in the district it pledges to protect. This board is more keen to shove assault cases under the rug rather than develop a good, safe community for every student to feel safe.”

Several public commenters voiced concern over Board Member Olson’s social media activity, with many calling for her resignation after a report by Together for Redlands revealed she had interacted with an alt-right Instagram account promoting racist, homophobic and antisemitic content. Olson dismissed the criticism as a “massive hate campaign.” Read our article about the controversy here.

“Like many in our district, our state, and even across the country I was shocked and disgusted to see board member Candy Olson share racist, homophobic and anti-Semitic posts on multiple social media platforms,” said one commenter. “National recognition has come to our community, it's come to our students, our teachers, and to our board, and it's a total embarrassment. 

The topic of possible legal consequences was also discussed by multiple public speakers. 

“I believe in the right of every student to learn and to think freely. Book banning has no place in Redlands Unified. Book banning policies will drag Redlands Unified into endless lawsuits,” said one speaker. “We need to keep our dollars in the classroom and not in the courtroom.”

“When we get sued, all of you who vote for this, it’ll be on you… when we have to lose money and we get sued… then you can thank yourselves,” Ayala-Quintero said.

Superintendent Juan Cabral noted at the end of the meeting that the policy is in line with state law (specially AB 1078) and careful implementation will be needed to ensure the anti-discrimination law is not violated.

"If at any point the community feels that there are certain books, genres, or themes that are being targeted, and that could violate AB 1078, then I fully expect for the community to hold us accountable to that," Cabral said.

Moving forward: The new policy takes effect immediately, meaning book challenges can now be initiated under the updated procedures. District leaders will convene a committee to finalize the rubric and definitions used in evaluating challenged materials. 

While Tuesday’s vote marked the end of the formal approval process, it’s unlikely to end the controversy. Critics have already hinted at possible legal action, and both sides appear braced for more battles over what books belong on school library shelves.