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Clyde-Savannah board will revisit controversial book ban amid legal challenge

Facing legal action from district educators and pressure from the New York State United Teachers union, the Clyde-Savannah Board of Education is set to review its earlier decision to remove five books from the Junior/Senior High School Library.


Board President Pam Anstee plans to introduce a motion to reverse the board’s August 9 vote, which rejected a Library Materials Review Committee’s recommendation to keep the books.

The Finger Lakes Times reports the initial decision to ban the books came after local pastor Jacob Marchitell criticized the content as inappropriate for young readers.


The six-member committee that reviewed the books and recommended their retention included school administrators and educators.

Meanwhile, Emilie Bastian, a library media specialist, and Matthew Drahms, a district teacher, have filed legal papers asking for an annulment of the board’s previous decision and an immediate stay granted by State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa.