By Gretchen Garrity
After almost three years of attempting to work with the Christian County Library District to protect children and the rights of parents, the public is seeing what amounts to a sea change at the library.
A turnover of four of five Library Board of Trustee members, and the resignation of the former executive director, Renee Brumett, has lead to some significant changes:
- Citizen visibility of the Board packet (including reports, finances, etc.)
- Expanded public comment time
- Subcommittee formed to rewrite policies and bylaws to better reflect state statutes and federal laws, including collection policies that dictate book/material selections
- Subcommittee formed to bring greater transparency to Library District finances
- Disassociation from the ALA and MLA, both of which advocate for socialist/Marxist agendas in libraries, as well as providing minors with age-inappropriate materials that include hyper-sexualization and transgender agendas.
The Library Board has faced significant opposition from activists in the community. That continues with the news of the former interim executive director's firing. Former Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships Tory Pegram, who was acting as the interim executive director, was fired according to KMSU's Chris Drew.
Activists who oppose the current board's changes have taken to social media. Unfortunately, in their haste and anger, they report untruths. Here is one:
Amy Jane Hoogstraet Safley (who previously applied for appointment to the Library Board) asserts the Board had no authority to terminate the employment of Pegram, who apparently stepped down from the interim executive director spot shortly before she was fired. Two things:
State statute grants county library boards broad powers to govern their library districts. RSMo 182.200 states in part:
"182.200. Board, organization, powers, duties — funds, management and disbursement — exchange services. — 1. The trustees, immediately after appointment, shall meet and organize by the election of one of their number as president, and by the election of such other officers as they may deem necessary.
2. They shall make and adopt such bylaws, rules and regulations for their own guidance, and for the government of the library, as may be expedient, and not inconsistent with sections 182.140 to 182.301.
3. They shall appoint a properly qualified librarian who shall be the chief executive and administrative officer for the library.
4. They shall have the exclusive control of the expenditure of all moneys collected to the credit of the library fund, and of the construction of any library building, and of the supervision, care and custody of the grounds, rooms or buildings constructed, leased, or set apart for that purpose..."
The statute does not delineate or limit a library board's power over any employee under their governance. If a library board has bylaws that limit their own power to govern the library district, state statute would necessarily take precedence if needed. Indeed, a governing board has the power to set aside their bylaws if necessity dictates.
Secondly, since Pegram apparently stepped down from the interim executive director position without assigning another staff member to the position, she effectively handed over the reins to the Library Board, which is the governing authority of the Library District. The library staff are not authorized to govern themselves. Taxpayer-funded entities and their employees are governed by the people through their elected and publicly appointed representatives.
Additionally, the Library District's personnel handbook (5.10 Resignation Policy) states, "Letters of resignation will be submitted to the Executive Director. At least four weeks notice is required for all Administrative level positions and two weeks notice for other staff members."
While it is not known when Pegram submitted a notice of resignation to the Library Board, there should have been enough time to appoint another interim director. According to KSMU's Drew, "The board expects to appoint a new interim director in the meantime." This means no one was assigned those duties when Pegram stepped down as interim director.
Hoogstraet Safley went on to accuse the Christian County Commissioners of gross incompetence for appointing four of five current members of the Library Board. This is intemperate and false and should be retracted, as well as the statement that the Library Board had no authority to terminate the former interim executive director.
Truth matters.