It would be harder to ban school textbooks in California if the state Legislature passes an Inland Assemblymember’s bill.
Calling it a stand against “white Christian nationalist extremism,” Assemblymember Corey Jackson plans to amend one of his bills to require a supermajority vote by local school boards to ban textbooks.
AB 1078 also would set up an appeals process for a book ban involving county boards of education. Introduced in February, the bill passed the Assembly May 30 by a 62-16 vote and is currently before the state Senate.
Provisions requiring a supermajority and an appeals process aren’t currently in AB 1078, but that language will be added through amendments next week, said Daniel Peeden, a Jackson spokesperson.
In a Tuesday press release, Jackson, D-Perris, noted the unfolding controversy over the Temecula Valley Unified School District board’s decision last month to block a history textbook because its supporting materials mentioned the late LGBTQ civil rights leader Harvey Milk.
Board President Joseph Komrosky, without elaborating, called Milk “a pedophile” during a May 16 meeting in which the board voted 3-2 against bringing the book into the district. The decision drew a backlash from parents, LGBTQ activists and Gov. Gavin Newsom, who called Komrosky “an ignorant person” on Twitter.
“Congrats Mr. Komrosky you have our attention,” the governor added in a tweet that linked to a TV news report about the board’s action. “Stay tuned.”
Komrosky and the school district did not respond Tuesday to requests for comment.
Jackson’s bill likely would have left Temecula’s five-trustee board one vote short of rejecting the textbook. The board’s conservative majority — Komrosky, Danny Gonzalez and Jen Wiersma — vote as a bloc with the other two board members, Allison Barclay and Steven Schwartz, voting in opposition.
Temecula isn’t the only school board to reject a textbook. School boards nationwide have…
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