Hillsborough County schools Superintendent Van Ayres pledged to remove more books from district shelves during a heated state Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, as board members suggested firing all county media specialists or exploring criminal charges as possible alternatives.

The meeting in Miami followed letters from Education Commissioner Manny Diaz and Attorney General James Uthmeier sharing concerns about the content of six books including “pornographic materials” in school shelves. Ayres told the state board he would immediately order the removal of another 57 titles identified by the state as objectionable.

“I expect and hope that these books will be removed in the next two weeks,” board Chairperson Ben Gibson told Ayres. “If they’re not removed, then I’m going to ask th

See Full Page