Library Aide Will Get $38,000 In Lawsuit Over Book Dispute

A library aide whose firing by a Kalispell-area school district sparked a national debate over censorship and freedom of thought is receiving $38,000 in an out-of-court settlement of a civilrights lawsuit.

Debbie Denzer, a library aide for the West Valley School District, brought two books from home in December 1993 to loan to two seventh-grade girls working on a term project on witchcraft.

But the books, - “The Devil and All His Works” and “Not in God’s Image” - contained sexually graphic language and illustrations.

“Nudity, violence, graphic text - just about everything” was offensive, said parent Susan Walhus, who complained to Superintendent Frank de Kort. De Kort suspended Denzer and recommended she be fired. The school board did so in special session Jan. 3, 1994, citing misconduct and failure to observe school policy.

Denzer appealed to the county superintendent of schools, maintaining that West Valley had no policy on bringing in personal materials for students - a practice she said she frequently engaged in because of the limited library.

Former County Superintendent Dorothy Laird found that Denzer may have used poor judgment but had violated no policies, and ordered the disrict to pay her about $6,000 in back pay and benefits.

The school district appealed, and Denzer sued, alleging her civil rights had been violated. Under the settlement, Denzer will receive $3,000 from the school district and $35,000 from its insurance company.