Decision Expected Tonight on Whether to Ban Book at Fairbanks High Schools

he district launched the review after a resident complained about “Betrayed,” part two of the “House of Night” series by P.C. and Kristin Cast.

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By Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Story Created: Mar 8, 2011 at 3:56 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Mar 8, 2011 at 3:56 PM AKDT

FAIRBANKS — A committee of parents, teachers and administrators will decide tonight whether to recommend banning a book from the school district’s high school libraries.

The district launched the review after a resident complained about “Betrayed,” part two of the “House of Night” series by P.C. and Kristin Cast. The book involves teenage vampires and resembles the “Twilight” saga, said Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools Wayne Gerke.

The book can be found in the West Valley, Hutchison, North Pole and Ben Eielson high school libraries.

In December, following the initial complaint, Gerke and the director of library media decided the book could stay in high school libraries. They made the decision after reading the book, its reviews and considering its audience.

The resident, who Gerke did not identify, appealed the decision. That brought the discussion to tonight’s committee, to be convened by Superintendent Pete Lewis. He will make a decision after considering the committee’s recommendation. If the resident is not satisfied with the decision, he can bring it to the school board.

The committee meeting and public hearing for the book’s evaluation begins at 6 p.m. in Room 426 of the school district’s Administrative Center.

Gerke said this is the second complaint about a library book he has heard during his career here. The first was a literary book a teacher used in her high school English course, he said.

“They’re not a regular occurrence,” he said. 

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