Greenville County Schools Adjust Plans for Book Fairs due to State Regulations

Greenville County Schools Delay Book Fairs for the Upcoming School Year

Greenville, S.C. – The Greenville County School District has announced that it will delay book fairs for the upcoming school year due to new regulations set by the State Board of Education. These regulations, effective August 1, 2024, require school districts to ensure that teaching materials, including books, are age-appropriate and do not contain sexual content.

According to Tim Waller, a spokesperson for the Greenville County School District, the decision to pause book fairs is aimed at protecting the staff, including media specialists and teachers, from unintentionally violating state regulations. “We want to protect our employees against accidentally violating the state regulation. We decided this year just not to have them,” Waller stated.

The district is facing challenges due to the quick implementation of the new rules, which coincide with the upcoming book fair season. Leaders expressed concern that they do not have enough time to properly review and assess every book that would be featured at these fairs. Waller reassured that this is only a temporary pause, saying, “We plan at some point in the future to go back to having book fairs; we love book fairs.”

While Greenville County has chosen to pause its book fairs, other districts like Spartanburg School District 5 are planning to continue with theirs despite the changes in regulations. Meanwhile, Greenville County Schools are reallocating funds to comply with the new rules, including the purchase of barcode scanners for each school. This equipment will allow schools to create a public database where parents can view the available books and teaching materials for their children.

In addition to the scanners, the district has budgeted for extra clerical assistance to help catalog the books, ensuring compliance with the new regulations. “We’ve set aside money for every school to have five days of clerical assistance where extra people can come in and help catalog books,” Waller said.

The South Carolina Department of Education has expressed its support for Greenville County Schools as they navigate these new regulations. Jason Raven, a spokesperson, stated, “The Department commends the District on its vigilance. The SCDE will offer its support for finding vendors that can give schools and families peace of mind that they are providing age-appropriate materials to our students.”