The board's decision was to essentially make no decision right now. 'The Handmaid's Tale' is not on this year's curriculum, but it could appear again on reading lists in the future.

Enough people have an opinion on this book that Wednesday night's school board meeting had to be moved to the high school's auditorium to accomodate everyone.

"We are here to say the pornographic materials in the book is not acceptable," said a concerned parent.

"Once you start censoring things that you may not believe in, that takes away my parental responsibility to do that," says a parent that supports the book.

Parents on both sides of the fold came out to the school board meeting to have the board hear their concerns, but it wasn't the parents who filled the seats at the meeting. It was the students, and they want the book taught.

Of the 45 students in Mrs. Gappert's classes, only 1 objected to the material. That's why the students came out to support her.

"Its not just to do with the content of the book, its basic human freedom and rights," says Brandon Smith of Mrs. Gappert's class.

The parent group at the meeting wore buttons stating that they will not vote for Beaver Local's upcoming renewal levy if this book is not banned. That's somthing superintendent Willard Adkins isn't concerned with.

"There are some who have said they will not vote for our levy, but there are those who are saying, lets continue what we're doing, we're going to vote for the levy," says Adkins.

The board announced that the book will not be on next year's list of books the Advanced Placement English Class will read, but its not scheduled to be. Its taught every two years.

"Will you teach this book again in 2 years?"

"If its on my list of suggested reading list, my primary job is to prepare students to take a test. I certainly am not going to have to have permission from my school board to teach a course, and not arm my students to take a test," says Leslie Gappert.

The concerned parents at the meeting say they will take steps with the board to essentially appeal the decision. They say they'll file the paperwork to have the book investigated further.

Nate Cline