Hamilton East library president, who pushed book review policy, is removed from board

Noblesville school board members voted Tuesday to appoint an English teacher to the Hamilton East Public Library Board, removing a fellow school board member from the library board: the president who was behind a push to remove "inappropriate" books from young adult sections.

Bill Kenley, an English teacher at Noblesville High School, will replace current HEPL Board President Laura Alerding. The school board's vote was 3-2, with Alerding and fellow board member Misti Ray dissenting.

Alerding was one of the library board members who voted for and helped develop the board’s collection development policy, a review of all youth books to move "inappropriate" content to the two library locations' adult sections. 

The latest on HEPL:Library, school boards reviewing teen book relocation policy

She declined to comment following the board's vote. Alerding still has one more week in her appointment, which includes HEPL's monthly meeting Aug. 24.

"These appointments have traditionally been filled by educators, and it is unusual for a board member to hold one of the seats," Marnie Cooke, the district's spokeswoman, wrote in a statement. "While our board members typically take turns rotating committee assignments amongst themselves, a majority of the board has decided that this appointment should return to past practice and be held by an educator."

The board's recent decisions have led to public outcry and national scrutiny. The stir brought nearly 200 people to the Noblesville School Board meeting Tuesday.

More than 25 speakers took to the podium in Noblesville, with about half of the speakers showing support for keeping “obscene materials” from children and teens. 

The board passed the policy in December and cemented it in the spring by defining what cannot be within the pages of a book for young people.

Most recently, the library’s review removed John Green’s “The Fault in Our Stars” from teen sections. Green discovered this and sent a scathing letter to the board demanding an explanation.

After the board said the move was a mistake – Alerding placing blame on library staff for misinterpreting the board's policy – Green went on to push the board Monday to replace all of the young adult novels.

"Cool. What about my other books and hundreds of other YA titles?" he wrote. "Award-winning classics of YA lit by everyone from Nic Stone to Judy Blume continue to be wrong shelved by a ridiculous policy that embarrasses Central Indiana. Change the policy not just for TFIOS, but for all."

Alerding was appointed to the HEPL board after being elected to the school board in 2020. Her removal threatens the board's conservative majority, which last year saw four seats turn over, providing the votes to make changes to the library's shelving policy.

It's not clear what Kenley's position on the policy is. He's a 25-year teacher and a graduate of Noblesville High School.

HEPL board member Tiffanie Ditlevson declined to comment Tuesday evening on the failure to reappoint Alerding.

Ray Maddalone, who was appointed to the HEPL board last year, said he is sad to see Alerding go, emphasizing Alerding's oversight of the library director's review.

"I thought she was a perfect board member for the library board and I'm just disappointed," Maddalone said.

Rachel Fradette is a suburban education reporter at IndyStar. Contact her at rfradette@indystar.com or follow her on Twitter at @Rachel_Fradette.