Conroe ISD Restricts Books, Comment, Staff Speech

Conroe ISD Board Approves Significant New Policies on Library Books, Public Comment, and Staff Communications

Conroe, TX – The Conroe Independent School District (CISD) Board of Trustees on Tuesday night, May 21st, approved a series of significant new policies affecting school library books, public participation at board meetings, and professional communications for district employees. All three policies passed with a 6-1 vote, with Trustee Stacy Chase casting the lone dissenting vote.

The board adopted a revised policy for school library materials, which tightens restrictions beyond the scope of the state’s House Bill 900. Under the new rule, Superintendent Dr. Curtis Null now possesses the authority to immediately remove any book deemed “sexually explicit,” “pervasively vulgar,” or “educationally unsuitable” from district library shelves. If a book is removed from one campus, it will automatically be pulled from all CISD schools. The policy also reduces the timeframe for parents to review a challenged book from 60 days to 30 days. Additionally, teachers and librarians are now mandated to review all new book purchases for potentially explicit content prior to their acquisition. Books such as *Gender Queer: A Memoir*, *Flamer*, and *The Hate U Give* were referenced during the district’s discussion as examples of content targeted by the new guidelines.

Changes were also approved for public comment procedures at board meetings. Previously, individuals could sign up online up to two days before a scheduled meeting. Effective immediately, those wishing to address the board must now sign up in person at the meeting location, with registration closing 10 minutes prior to the start of the meeting. While the total public comment period remains 30 minutes, with each speaker allotted three minutes, this in-person sign-up requirement effectively limits the number of speakers to a maximum of 10 individuals per meeting.

Finally, the board passed a new “Resolution Concerning Employee Professional Communications.” This policy mandates that all district employees exercise “professional judgment” and refrain from sharing “controversial topics or personal views” while on school property or during interactions with students and parents. It specifically prohibits staff from wearing or displaying items such as pins, lanyards, or certain clothing that promote political or controversial topics. The resolution explicitly named “gender identity” and “sexual orientation” as examples of such controversial subjects. The policy also applies to digital communication. Trustee Chase voiced concerns that this policy could exert a “chilling effect” on free speech among staff members within the district.

For more details on these policy changes, residents can access the official minutes and agenda of the May 21st Board of Trustees meeting on the Conroe ISD website.