Mineola School Board adopted a policy Monday to govern future book acquisitions.

The extensive policy was outlined by Superintendent Cody Mize.

It puts the district in line with new policies adopted following a massive effort by the state legislature in the past two sessions.

Mize said these changes put ownership of the district’s reading materials into the hands of the board.

One of the key components, and one that took the most time to implement, allows parents to be immediately notified electronically when their child checks out a book. The policy also extends to parents being able to flag certain books that their child is not allowed to check out.

Mize detailed the steps for approval of books as well as steps when books are challenged.

Once books are requested for purchase, they are reviewed by the campus principal and a certified librarian and posted for 30 days for public review, followed by approval of the school board.

If challenged, a campus committee would review it, and it could then be appealed to the school board.

The policy applies not only to library books but also classroom library sets, Mize said.

He said he has not seen anything in the law which requires the policy to be retroactive.

He also mentioned that, unlike movies, which are rated for appropriateness, there is not a similar rating system for books.

Mize also said that in at least some instances, books inappropriate for certain ages made it onto to library shelves because they may have earned some award, without anyone actually reading the book.

In other business, board members heard the first of what is expected to be several presentations on methods to address roof repairs at the high school and former elementary school buildings.

In the annual report on the English Learners Program evaluation, it was reported that just under 16% of the district’s students are classified, and a record 25 students advanced out of the program.