Book covers for “Push” and “The Bluest Eye” over the Redlands Unified School District boardroom. Trustees will review appeals on both titles Dec. 9. (Graphic by Community Forward Redlands)
REDLANDS, Calif. – For the first time since passing its controversial new book review policy, the Redlands Unified School Board of Trustees will hold public hearings this week to consider whether a pair of books should remain in the library.
Why it matters: Tuesday will be the first test of the revised book review policy (AR 1312.2) that went into effect at the start of the 2025-26 school year. In addition to review committees, the policy implemented a rubric used to score a book’s appropriateness.
Board will hear appeal of book review committee decisions
Two books, Push by Sapphire and The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, are before the board on Dec. 9.
Both books fall under Section II of the policy regarding material alleged to contain “perceived pornography, erotica, graphic descriptions or depictions of sexual acts, and/or sexual violence, or sexually explicit materials.”
Both titles include difficult themes, including trauma and sexual violence.
According to policy, a principal is required to remove these books within three business days of a complaint. A district-level review committee that includes the superintendent, the assistant superintendent of educational services, and the director of elementary or secondary education would then read and review the books in question.
To judge a book’s appropriateness, the committee uses a newly developed review rubric, scorecard and definitions list.
The rubric scores books based on five criteria, including:
Presence of explicit sexual content: Rate the severity and/or frequency of pornography, erotica, or detailed sexual acts.
Depictions of sexual violence: Rate the severity and/or frequency of sexual assault, coercion, or graphic violence tied to sexuality.
Contextual purpose: Is the content gratuitous, or is it presented in a literary, historical, scientific, or educational context?
Age and developmental suitability: Are the materials appropriate for the current placement?
Potential negative impact on students:Does exposure risk psychological harm, trauma, or disruption?
Committee members assign a score from 0 to 5 for each category. Although the scale labels differ across the rubric, the scoring works the same way: low numbers signal appropriateness; high numbers signal concern.
The values from each section are then added for a total score. Any score under 10 means no action is taken. Scores from 11 to 19 mean the book would be moved to a higher level or restricted if at the high school level. A score above 20 would result in removal of the book.
Here’s how the books in question scored
Three scorecards were submitted to the board for The Bluest Eye. One committee member gave the book a 9, recommending no action be taken and allowing the book to stay in the library. Two committee members scored the book at 14, recommending the book be moved to a higher level or restricted.
Three scorecards were submitted to the board for Push by Sapphire. All three committee members scored the book in the middle range, recommending the book be moved to a higher level or restricted.
None of the rubric scorecards recommended the removal of the books.
According to the policy, the superintendent would have provided the committee’s written report of its decision within three business days to the complainant, school site principal, school librarian and Board of Education.
Both decisions have been appealed by the original complainant.
What’s happening Tuesday
Now the board must decide whether to uphold the committee’s decision to keep the books but limit access, or to side with the complainant and remove the books altogether. Because the item is listed as a public hearing under Public Participation, community members will have an opportunity to speak in person before the board begins its deliberation.
Following deliberation, the board shall vote to designate the appropriate grade-level access. If the material is deemed unsuitable for any level, it will be permanently removed from the corresponding schools and district facilities within five business days of the board’s decision.
Community reaction
In a media release, community group Together for Redlands urged the board to stick with the committee’s findings.
“These committees required both time and district funds to complete their work, and they recommended that these books remain available to students,” said a representative of Together for Redlands. “We urge the board to respect the integrity of that process. Ignoring the committees’ findings would undermine the policy the board adopted and waste valuable district resources.”
The group also points out that both titles, written by Black authors, were selected by credentialed district librarians.
“The district invested resources to assemble these committees, ensuring that the review process was thorough, balanced and aligned with policy,” the statement said.
School Board meeting information
The public agenda item and attached rubric scores can be found under Section 9, Public Participation, of the school board meeting agenda.
The public hearings will take place during the Dec. 9 school board meeting which begins at 6:00 p.m. in the board room at 25 West Lugonia Avenue, Redlands.
A former local TV news producer, Stephanie launched CFR in 2023. Originally from Michigan, she’s made Redlands home with her husband and three kids. When she’s not reporting, she’s problem-solving at the climbing gym or trying new local restaurants.
Kathryne Mccann
