Director grants appeal and orders Washington County to search for records on book removals

A petitioner representing Washington County parents raised concerns that the district removed at least 61 library titles and failed to provide records described in its own emails (spreadsheets, Google Forms, meeting notes). "Washington's own website shows they've removed at least 61 titles, which implies they have records showing their process for reviewing and removing those books," the petitioner told Director Pearson and requested a remand for fuller searches and production.

County counsel explained two removal processes: (1) formal committee reviews (which generate committee forms) and (2) BrightLine removals (statutorily defined cases in which minimal paperwork is kept because books meet a defined statutory standard). The county said it had provided policy documents, a public spreadsheet listing removed books, and some emails; it also asserted many removals generate limited additional records and noted pending statewide litigation that could affect disclosure.

After reviewing records in camera and testimony, Director Pearson found the district had not conducted a reasonable search for all records implicated by the produced materials and granted the appeal. He ordered Washington County to conduct targeted follow‑up searches, produce records with black‑box redactions (so the requester can see what was redacted), and provide a sworn notice explaining the scope of searches and whether any records were lost or destroyed.

Why it matters: The decision requires a local school district to account for book‑removal decisions and to produce internal documentation where it exists, reinforcing record‑keeping and transparency obligations when removals affect student access to materials.

The director will issue a written decision within seven business days; the district may provide a notice of compliance or appeal to district court.