Scottsdale Unified Board President Under Fire for Disputed Library Book Selections

By Scottsdale Unites for Educational Integrity |

During a contentious board meeting on September 10, 2024, Libby Hart-Wells, President of the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD), asserted that a “supermajority” of parents oppose the removal of certain library books deemed inappropriate for minors. This claim directly followed a letter sent to the board on July 31, 2024, from 13 organizations, supported by former Arizona Superintendent Diane Douglas.

The letter highlighted multiple books in SUSD libraries, rated as Not for Minors or Aberrant Content by BookLooks.org. A notable title, “PUSH” by Sapphire, is currently available at Arcadia High School. This book is notorious for its graphic content and explicit language, with the film adaptation rated R, which faces a ban in SUSD classrooms due to existing board policies.

An excerpt from “PUSH” includes disturbing themes of incest and sexual abuse, igniting concerns among parents about its appropriateness in educational settings. Critics argue Hart-Wells’ claim contradicts Arizona laws, which prohibit exposing minors to harmful materials and underscore parental authority in educational matters.

In reaction to Hart-Wells’ statement, a post from the account @ALegalProcess sarcastically challenged the idea of parental approval, stating, “If she has a ‘supermajority’ of Scottsdale parents that approve… then we’re done here. ESAs for everyone.”

Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) 13-3506 and 13-3501 impose strict limitations on distributing harmful content to minors, while A.R.S. 1-602 and 15-711 reinforce parental oversight of children’s education and upbringing. The U.S. Supreme Court case Island Trees Union Free School No. 26 vs. Pico also supports schools in removing books for reasons like vulgarity or inappropriate educational content.

SUSD’s policy IJL further complicates Hart-Wells’ position by mandating that library resources enhance the curriculum and maintain ethical integrity. The district has previously faced criticism for removing other titles, including “Milk and Honey” and “So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed,” for their mature themes.

SUSD board candidate Mike Sharkey appears aligned with Hart-Wells, advocating for continued availability of controversial material. Sharkey has publicly criticized parents advocating for appropriate educational content, labeling their efforts as “book bans.”

In addition to her role in the library book review process, Hart-Wells has reportedly attempted to influence district policy by pushing for changes in guidelines regarding body part terminology in schools, raising further concerns among community members.

Although Hart-Wells has not provided clarification on her recent actions, critics maintain that the push for hypersexual and vulgar literature in schools warrants attention from parents. “It’s crucial for parents to understand the values of school board candidates,” stated an anonymous SUSD parent, expressing concerns over possible repercussions for speaking out.

Scottsdale Unites for Educational Integrity is a coalition of Scottsdale Unified parents, teachers, and community members dedicated to promoting academic success for every student.