School: Colby H.S. (Sport's Illustrated 1983)

Contact: Kathleen E. Englebretson

Email: kathy@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Berry, Luchterhand, Becker, Rueb

----Source: Wausau Daily Herald (18 February 1988)

COLBY -- Sports Illustrated February swimsuit issue has returned to Colby High School's library after administrators were accused of censorship and violating the state Open Meetings Law and school policy.

Principal Jack L. Berry said most school board members agreed with his decision last week to keep the newly arrived issue from the library. The annual issue featuring models in skimpy swimsuit creates controversy each February.

Board member Emil Luchterhand said the matter was discussed by administrators and the board behind closed doors Monday under circumstances that may have violated the Open Meetings Law.

"This was all handled badly," Luchterhand said in an interview.

School board policy requires an appointed committee to review written objections to library material, he said. The committee is appointed by the principal and the material must stay on the shelf until the committee rules, Luchterhand said.

Berry said he would form a review committee to formally decide whether the magazine should stay if any member of the community requests such action.

Because it was Berry who complained about the magazine, he should have withdrawn from the process, Luchterhand said.

School librarian Nancy Becker confirmed the magazine had been returned to the library. She said it would be handled under standard policy of keeping it on a shelf hidden from view, but available for any student who asked.

The board went into private session Monday to discuss the recent resignations of two journalism teachers who spokesmen said had complained about schedules.

Under the Open Meetings Law, the magazine matter "should not have come up at the closed session," Luchterhand said.

The magazine "degrades women," Berry said. "What values are we trying to teach our kids?"

Luchterhand's son, Bryce, of Unity, a member of Clark County's Board of Supervisors, said he was denied permission to address the school board during the public meeting attended by about 15 people.

"The whole afternoon was spent by the administration (to) not have this come out in the open," the senior Luchterhand said.

Meetings don't ordinarily include public discussion of items that aren't on the agenda, Superintendent Lloyd Rueb said.

The younger Luchterhand, who has a 15-year-old daughter at the high school,objected to pulling the magazine in the first place and to the tactic of requiring students to ask a librarian for the magazine.

Libraries at Wausau West, Wausau East and Merrill high schools also keep the magazine behind the counter. The D.C. Everest High School displays the magazine on the shelf. The only problem library staff at these school have reported is students trying to steal the magazine.