Shenandoah board adopts revised book‑fair materials policy after extended debate
June 11, 2026 | SHENANDOAH CO PBLC SCHS, School Districts, Virginia
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The Shenandoah County School Board on June 11 approved a revised policy governing the selection and public posting of book‑fair materials after lengthy debate, multiple amendments and public comment from a school librarian.
Librarian Linda Bbach of WW Robinson Elementary told the board the proposed rule had been developed without adequate stakeholder input and would burden volunteer‑run fundraisers. "If this policy is currently presented as passed, it will likely be my last bookfare fundraiser," she said, urging the board to revise the draft.
Board members questioned the draft's scope and mechanics. Mr. Rickert asked whether book‑fair materials would be required to "coincide with our instructional materials," saying he could not find that standard in the draft. In response, board members and counsel explained the policy was intended to set age‑appropriate guardrails and align book fair inventories more closely with library or instructional goals.
Board member Mr. Sh proposed and the board approved amendments requiring a book‑fair vendor to provide either a link to the vendor's full online catalog or a manifest listing the specific items being shipped to a school, and requiring the school or division to post either the fair‑specific inventory or the vendor's catalog online. He also moved to remove a provision creating a parental specific‑title restriction; that amendment passed after discussion about the operational burden of listing titles for each child.
Members also clarified that formal challenges to book‑fair items would follow the library materials committee review procedures (as outlined in the division's library materials policy), ensuring a committee review process rather than ad hoc handling of objections.
After the amendments, the board voted to approve draft three of policy KBBF as amended. The final approval was recorded as unanimous.
The board scheduled related policy discussions for additional review at upcoming work sessions; the policy language adopted specifies notice and inventory requirements for vendors and public posting procedures but omits the earlier parental specific‑title restriction that some members and community volunteers said would be impractical to administer.
Librarian Linda Bbach of WW Robinson Elementary told the board the proposed rule had been developed without adequate stakeholder input and would burden volunteer‑run fundraisers. "If this policy is currently presented as passed, it will likely be my last bookfare fundraiser," she said, urging the board to revise the draft.
Board members questioned the draft's scope and mechanics. Mr. Rickert asked whether book‑fair materials would be required to "coincide with our instructional materials," saying he could not find that standard in the draft. In response, board members and counsel explained the policy was intended to set age‑appropriate guardrails and align book fair inventories more closely with library or instructional goals.
Board member Mr. Sh proposed and the board approved amendments requiring a book‑fair vendor to provide either a link to the vendor's full online catalog or a manifest listing the specific items being shipped to a school, and requiring the school or division to post either the fair‑specific inventory or the vendor's catalog online. He also moved to remove a provision creating a parental specific‑title restriction; that amendment passed after discussion about the operational burden of listing titles for each child.
Members also clarified that formal challenges to book‑fair items would follow the library materials committee review procedures (as outlined in the division's library materials policy), ensuring a committee review process rather than ad hoc handling of objections.
After the amendments, the board voted to approve draft three of policy KBBF as amended. The final approval was recorded as unanimous.
The board scheduled related policy discussions for additional review at upcoming work sessions; the policy language adopted specifies notice and inventory requirements for vendors and public posting procedures but omits the earlier parental specific‑title restriction that some members and community volunteers said would be impractical to administer.
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