Texas School Board Association Confused by Letter from Governor

(WBAP/KLIF) – The ‘Texas Association of School Boards’ said Monday that it’s confused by a letter it received this week from Governor Abbott.

Governor Abbott sent a letter to the TASB to ensure no student is exposed to books containing pornography or inappropriate content.

“A growing number of parents of Texas students are becoming increasingly alarmed about some of the books and other content found in public school libraries that are extremely inappropriate in the public education system,” Governor Abbott said in a letter to the TASB. “The most flagrant examples include clearly pornographic images and substance that have no place in the Texas public education system. You have an obligation to Texas parents and students to ensure that no child in Texas is exposed to pornography or other inappropriate content while inside a Texas public school.”

In response, the school board association said it’s confused why it received the letter.

“We are confused, though, as to why this letter was sent to the Texas Association of School Boards, which has no regulatory authority over school districts and does not set the standards for instructional materials, including library books,” the TASB said in a statement. “The role of a school board primarily includes establishing a strategic plan for the district, adopting policies in public meetings, approving the district’s budget, and selecting and evaluating a superintendent.”

According to TASB, the review and selection of individual library materials traditionally has been an administrative responsibility in most school districts.