Education
Letters from Jack Knocke, 8-13-25
Editor’s note: Since the school board was unwilling to afford Mr. Knocke the courtesy of presenting his position on the district’s handling on books deemed objectionable by multiple residents and the state, they are presented here. Please share with others.
From: [email protected]
Sent: 8/12/25 5:17 PM
Subject: FW: Proposed New policy 8.33 – please delay to make changes
Nassau County School Board,
Below are the notes that I attempted to read at the school board meeting last night. I’m disappointed that in a public workshop with me being the only public speaker, our school board would not provide a few additional minutes to complete my statement. Over the last 3 years, I and many members of the community have worked hard to bring porn books to the attention of the district for removal. It has been a long and painful process for us in the community and the district. Disappointingly, because of our objections, we have been vilified by members of the district staff and this board. Unfortunately, the changes to the policy seek to make it harder to object to a book and harder to do what we directed – keep porn out of our school libraries.
Because I was given only 3 minutes last night with no discussion and no consideration of the serious issues that I brought forward, I would appreciate a personal meeting with each school board member and the Superintendent to discuss this issue personally before you vote on Thursday. You can reach me at [email protected] or 470-295-4365 to arrange a time to meet or call.
I have three primary points to make:
- The policy changes are harmful to an efficient book removal process:
· II. Opening paragraph- repetitive to 6 and unnecessary
· II A 1 Previously reported problem books were effectively reported. Additional form requirement are not necessary and will discourage busy parents and people not familiar with the forms to not report. The existing process was adequate and effective with regard to reporting books.
· II A 3. Renaming the review committee to call it a Statutory Compliance Team is window dressing. It does nothing to improve the process. It does not change the members of the team who have reviewed books for the last three years. Why change it? What should be added is that if the Review Committee declares a book in violation of 847.001 and/or 847.012 then that book should be removed entirely and immediately. This would have saved the district from returning books that were kept in house when they should have been totally removed and not put in the district office.
· II A 5 Meeting in the sunshine is the only valid part of the changes in this procedure
· II B 4 & 5 District review committees used recently were a disaster and did not fairly review and remove porn books. This process should be stipulated in the procedure so that the 9-man review committees created by the Superintendent are not repeated. That was a broke process and should be eliminated and replaced with a more effective process.
· IV This section should be eliminated. If this section was in place in 2024, 60 objected to books would have been returned to the shelves with no remedy to remove them. The books were: Objected to. Removed. Returned. This section would have stopped further removal.
- There should be a sister policy brought forward at the same time indicating how the school district will proactively remove porn books and other offensive books that are in opposition to the values of the Nassau County Residents. There is not an effective policy, procedure or accountability in Nassau County that proactively removes porn or other offensive books from our school libraries. This was proven with my June 16 email below. There are many more porn books and inappropriate topics in our libraries that should be removed. Please insist on a policy that is presented with an update to 8.33 AND includes an update to staff requirements for proactively searching for, pulling and curating inappropriate books and removing them. Curation is the job of our district staff. Media specialists are not being held accountable. Some are in social media vilifying porn book objectors. Some were on review committees spouting the benefits of porn books with “literary value”. They should be removed.
- If your voters voted to keep porn, BLM, racism, DEI, SEL, violence, drug use, antisemitism, and other offensive topics then you should protect those themes with all of your energy. If your voters voted for your Christian Conservative values, then your votes on the board should reflect those American values. Remove those books with themes that have no “educational value”. Teaching porn, BLM, racism, DEI, SEL, violence, drug use, antisemitism, and other offensive topics is not considered education by me and many others in our community including many on this board – maybe all of you. Please ask your constituents how you should vote. Your Sunday school class. Your book club. Teachers. Parents. Your friends. We are the ones who voted for you.
I look forward to hearing from you prior to the Thursday board meeting and vote.
Talking points from August 11, workshop that I was unable to read in full.
Let me introduce myself
- I have been leading a group of citizens who has objected to porn books in our schools since 2022
- We identified 10, then 26, then 22 books for a total of 60 – all were removed
- The school review team comprised of Mr. Durham, Ms. Mathis and Ms. Watkins declared 31 of the first 36 books as violating Florida Obscenity to Minors Statutes 847.001 and 847.012.
- This board voted to put all books back in the libraries after Dr. Burns and Mr. Steger’s recommendation reacting to a bogus first amendment lawsuit
- Our team of citizens objected to all 60 books againand the books were removed again
- In this new policy, the district seeks to create “clear limitations on repeated objections to the same material unless new statutory concerns are presented”
- Then the district put in place a 9-person committee to review the 60 books and put some of the porn books back. From the beginning this was an ill-conceived and poorly designed process doomed for failure. Recall that you were given the process as you entered a workshop and told – this is what we are doing.
- All the time they talked about process, process, process
- I work from facts, school resources, online verification tools and actually reading the books
- Policy 8.33 proposed changesare a slap in the face to the community
- Solves nothing – status quo, just going through the motions
- Harder for citizens-more rules and forms
- No commitment to proactively clear libraries and classrooms of these books
- Limits public oversight of this process
- Continues to limit the ability to remove offensive materials, ties staff hands
- Does not address offensive books with LGBTQ, BLM, DEI, violence, drug use, and other themes that are NOT EDUCATIONAL. Many of these books are in our elementary schools!
I RECOMMEND that you PUNT and start over
Proposed policy changes
- Any Board Member, Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Administrator, Principal or Media Specialist ON THEIR OWN may curate a book out of the school library or classroom if they assess that the book is not furthering the education of students in Nassau County. When they do so, they will provide notice to their supervisor and permanently remove the book unless there is an objection by their supervisor.
- Any teacher or employee of the school system becomes aware of a potentially problem book; they may notify one of the above to take action.
- Any parent or citizen who becomes aware of a potentially problem book, may notify one of the above to take action.
- Stop using NEFEC to write our local policies. Did NEFEC write this new policy again?
- Engage citizens who represent the people. Don’t cherry pick extreme leftists who seek to make our schools secular and devoid of values. This Board should carefully select citizens and not superintendent or staff. We need transparency for who is bringing the extremists into our school system to drive policy.
- Put a policy in place that curates OUT books that are not educational according to the values of Nassau County Citizens, Florida Values and the values of United States of America and our founding principles.
Florida Education Commissioner and Florida Department of Education have made it clear:
- porn books and garbage have no place in our school libraries.
- Superintendents and School Boards should be held accountable
- Hiding behind processes is not acceptable – fix it
- Superintendents are responsible and should take action (this proposed policy change is sleight of hand, not effective, harmful to solving the problem, a waste of all of our time – put policies in place that solve the problem
- Hold staff accountable, empower action, fix the problem
- Board Attorney’s assertion that we need to reserve $200,000 to solve this problem is wrong. He is not operations. A list of books, destiny searches, searches on ratedbooks.com or other tools let’s someone assess the books in a matter of minutes. Then pull them.
On July 16, 2025, I sent an email to the superintendent and this board making you aware of other books in our libraries that are concerning. This was in reaction to Ms. Mathis’ statement that our new processes would not allow these inappropriate books to be in our schools any longer. That statement is disingenuous. Policies, processes and leadership directions from the Superintendent are NOT EFFECTIVE and need to be changed.
Today’s proposed changes to Policy 8.33 would not fix this.
In that July 16 email I identified the book by Jason Myers “Dead End” this book is horrible. Since then, it has been moved to In Processing, which now we know is code for put in the district office and return to the shelves when possible. Our proposed policy does not fix this. Ms. Mathis’ statement that the bad books are out is incorrect. The process is still broken. Staff apparently have no idea how to remove horrible books OR do they want to keep the books? What are we to conclude with weak policies, media specialists advocating in the review groups, online and in private.
What I didn’t do at that time was also identify another Jason Myers book “The Mission” also in Yulee. I’m not targeting Yulee, I’m just finding worst books in Yulee Elementary and High School. His other book, found with a simple Destiny Search an online search has Explicit Language, mature themes, drug use, substance abuse (cocaine) in a dark party-driven youth culture, sexual encounters, loss of virginity, hook-up sex in a substantial level of detail. This book is described as disturbing.
Why does our policy not suggest looking at all books from an author who is known to publish child porn and inappropriate content for minors? Why does someone off the street have to tell the superintendent, administrators, and this board the simple steps that could clean up our school libraries? We have a lot of people employed supposedly to do just this. Right?
We don’t need a policy that protects the Superintendent and staff from doing their job, we need a policy that REQUIRES them to do their job and welcomes input from the public. Even after objecting to 60 books, the superintendents, administrators, committee leaders NEVER reached out to me to discuss. Why should an interested citizen be black balled from being involved, communicated with or engaged because they bring awareness of porn books? I’m not the only one. Just the one standing before you bringing good ideas that can work. That are legal, easy to implement, low cost, intuitive, and common sense.
Please take action on a comprehensive change to polices that actually fix the problem and not just window dressing, legalese, sleight of hand, policies that serve no purpose to solve the problem.
I’m always here to help if you want to call or email.
Jack
Jack Knocke
470-295-4365
June 16 email on FDOE, more porn books in Nassau District Libraries, encouraging your action to remove porn books
From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 16, 2025 11:53 AM
To: ‘Kathy Burns’ <[email protected]>; ‘Shannon Hogue’ <[email protected]>; ‘Kristi Simpkins’ <[email protected]>; ‘Joseph Zimmerman’ <[email protected]>; ‘Gail Cook’ <[email protected]>; ‘Lissa Braddock’ <[email protected]>
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: NCSD: Deception, doublespeak and hiding behind processes
At the June 12, 2025 Nassau County School Board (NCSB) meeting, an extremely pornographic excerpt of the Nassau County library book Boy Toy by Barry Lyga was read by Pastor John Amanchuwhu. (Link to meeting video below). The only comment by Superintendent Burns was “Boy Toy” is not in Yulee. This was a deceptive comment because the book has been in Yulee High School and was only pulled from the shelf and moved to the district office after public objection. The district informally removed most the book previously, then replaced the books due to Superintendent Burns recommending the return of the book and the Board going along with the Burns recommendation in a 5-0 vote like just about every board vote that is made. Advice to board is flawed and oversight is lacking.
Here is the NCSD Destiny book system link showing the book in Yulee High School – in processing means under review. The system lists the book as “child sexual abuse” and “psychotherapy”. They have it listed as appropriate for students in 7th grade.
The Nassau County school district is relying on the public to object to books and not proactively removing porn books from our school libraries.
Has anyone at NCSD looked at other Barry Lyga (Boy Toy author) books in our schools? With a quick search, yes there are nine of his books in NCSD.
According to Barry Lyga author profile – His books explore many intriguing issues, death, dying, deek and Goth subcultures, teacher student affairs and more. See list of Lyga’s books in Nassau below.
Below are reviews of some of Barry Lyga’s books in Nassau County School Libraries.
Bang – Yulee HS, West Nassau HS – Gun Violence & Accidental Death, Suicide & Suicidal Ideation, Discrimination & Prejudice, Guilt, Family Strain & Emotional Trauma, for Young adults who are ready for serious discussions about mental health, trauma, and societal issues. Mature younger readers should approach cautiously, ideally with parental support due to the heavy themes.
Yesterday Again – Yulee Elementary. The story involves “zombies!” unleashed in the present, adding a horror-like suspense element, Family Trauma & Emotional Weight, Kyle’s moral choices involve acts of theft, sabotage, and risking others’ safety—eliciting guilt and internal conflict, layered with genuine suspense, emotional depth, and morally gray decisions
Mad Mask – Yulee Elementary – superhero tale with some darker undertones, fights, property destruction, and non-lethal conflict with law enforcement and military, Secondary characters are captured, with lingering psychological effects. Explores societal horror/fear around “beauty” and physical appearance. Ethical manipulation: Kyle is influenced by darker forces and experiences moral confusion.
The astonishing adventures of Fanboy & Goth Girl – Yulee HS – bullying, friendship, mental health, teen recklessness, and dark humor, Bullying & School Violence Fantasies, Self-Harm & Emotional Instability, Teen Recklessness & Risky Behavior, The dialogue is raw and unfiltered, with frequent profanity and teenage slang, References to sexual content include mentions of breasts, panty voyeurism, and crude male fantasies
The Hive – FB and Yulee HS – dystopian thriller (look it up), Online Vigilantism & Public Shaming, Online Hate & Threats, Violent Flash Mobs, The novel satirizes “cancel culture,” mob justice, and the unchecked power of online platforms,
The question Superintendent Burns should have asked is “what other garbage does this author have in our schools?” and then take action to quietly take out the garbage. Where is the school board with oversight?
Interestingly, the NCSB had no discussion at the official board meeting (June 12) about the porn books. Superintendent Burns seeks to have these discussions outside of official sessions in a workshop (June 9) that is lightly attended with less scrutiny. So, let’s look at the last School Board Workshop.
At June 9, 2025 NCSB meeting, the school district was asked to provide context on the Florida Education Commissioner, Manny Diaz, letter to Hillsborough County Superintendent about porn books in Hillsborough County Schools. Superintendent Burns mentioned that there was also a June 4 meeting of the FDOE (Florida Department of Education) where this matter was discussed, but her representation was limited to shielding the NCSB from the real message from that FDOE meeting.
The bottom line was that on June 4, 2025, FDOE and the Education Commissioner said to get the porn books out now, stop hiding behind processes, fire the media specialists who put these books in libraries or who are advocating for the books, Superintendents should act NOW or face referral to the State Attorney and face a third degree felony subject to 5 years in prison and $5,000 fine. They also stated that School Boards that are complicate could also be held individually liable. They stated that the “under review” process and holding on to books for “process” was unacceptable. The FDOE made it very clear that maintaining porn books in the schools is unacceptable and that the Superintendent and School Board are responsible for taking action. As the CEO of a school district, Superintendent Burns has and has had the power, authority and responsibility under Florida Statute 847.012, obscenity to minors, to remove the books entirely. If she does not, she can be held accountable.
NCSD has been chasing their tail with book review committees, processes, and other distractions wasting precious time and public tax dollars while ignoring the real problem of getting books out. At meetings, the oversight administrators Mathis and Burgess-Watkins appear to not know what is going on. Their process has put two porn (Beloved and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close) books BACK on the library shelves again. How many times do citizens have to remove them?
At the June 9th workshop, Superintendent Burns innocently stated that books can be removed in the future via the informal process. That they have to go through the formal review process now because of objections. This is actually disingenuous.
ALL 60 objected to books were already removed through an informal review process (2022, 2023, 2024). But, they were retained by the school district, like saving a penthouse magazine under the mattress, so that they could be returned at a later date which is exactly what the school district did in 2024. Superintendent Burns recommended the return of the books and the School Board voted 5-0 with the Superintendent to return them. Only then did the board half-heartedly ask questions only to be told by School Board Attorney, Brett Steger, that the board had no power over the books. That was bad legal advice.
Now, at the June 9 NCSB workshop, Burns claims that the informal review process will solve everything going forward. How is anyone to believe that? We have already been there and done that – and here we are. Burns is playing the citizens of Nassau county with deception, doublespeak and hiding behind processes that she wrote.
When talking about the FDOE’s requirement to remove the books, Burns response is that Attorney Steger claims that NCSD must reserve $200k in legal fees if they take action to remove the books. Steger did not mention that the Superintendent and School Board members will need to reserve 5 years of their life and $5,000 per charge if they fail to take action to protect Nassau children from porn in our school libraries.
Misty Mathis made some bold statements at the June 9 NCSB workshop. She stated that no employees of NCSD want to retain porn in our school libraries. That is not correct. In fact, there are radical media specialists in our school district who ordered the books, who defended the books on social media and who vote to retain the porn when they are on the book review committee. There is no oversight of the staff members who are complicit. There has been no action to discipline or better yet, remove media specialists to stop this madness.
Mathis stated boldly that porn books will not be in our schools because of new “processes”. That is incorrect also. NCSD is doing nothing to remove books proactively. NCSD now depends on citizens to make formal objections. That is the NCSD process.
Here is another example of a book in our Nassau County School Library. The book Dead End by Jason Myers is in Yulee High School. The same high school as Boy Toy read on June 12. There is clearly a problem with Dead End.
This book contains obscene and aberrant sexual activities including sexual assault; sexual nudity; profanity; drug and alcohol use; graphic violence; and self-harm including suicide.
Links to details on the book Dead End:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gbrYW8g3MvBu-WrzYpN_s5-2uELPy5YF/view
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mqCVVYxIs6Jh61yfRFbGB4SqZDhfJCps/view
https://www.libraryexposed.com/books/dead-end
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Dead_End/JmIzK1j69h0C?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover
How you might ask could this book be on our bookshelves in Nassau? Consider this an informal request by Jack Knocke to remove Dead End immediately.
Misty Mathis stated that these books could not be in our schools based on training of the Media Specialist and new processes that they have instituted. It’s here. Citizens can easily find these books – why can’t our staff.
What any competent person would do next is to see if there are any other Jason Myers books in our schools. Yes there are: The Mission by Jason Myers. Let’s make this another informal objection by Jack Knocke – Remove The Mission. NCSD has not sought to find it so once again it is up to citizens to bring it to their attention.
- The novel is “saturated with F‑bombs and other expletives”, using profanity extensively throughout the text
- explicit drug use, profanity, violence, sexual content, and misogyny
- Contains gratuitous hook‑up sex and descriptions of losing one’s virginity
- Not just youthful exploration but casual sex, frequently depicted in a blunt, somewhat detached manner.
- terrible wife‑beating dialogue
- slut‑shaming: female characters are judged harshly for promiscuity
Note that the new NCSD policy of restricting books to 11 and 12 graders is not shielding books from minors. The two porn books returned by the NCSD Committee Review process puts the administration at risk of criminal prosecution. There is a clear flaw in this process due to student ages by grade.
Board members Kristi Simpkins and Joe Zimmerman are the newest members of the Nassau County School Board. They were not part of the board that voted to return 60 porn books to the shelves. They are asking questions and are responsive to inquiries. Maybe there is hope. Prompt action is required now. A special board meeting should be called with urgency.
Here are links to the recent meetings noted above.
June 12, School Board Meeting
https://go.boarddocs.com/fl/nassau/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DET6YU17063D
Pastor John Amanchukwu Starts at 45:10 minute mark
(by allowing this to be read and putting this video online, has NCSD posted porn on their website?)
Jack Knocke – Starts at 52.09 minute mark
Robert Goodman – Starts at 1:00.11 minute mark
June 9, School Board Workshop
https://go.boarddocs.com/fl/nassau/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DET6YU17063D
Book Review process Discussion Starts at 16.48 Minute mark
June 4, Florida Department of Education meeting
https://thefloridachannel.org/videos/6-4-25-state-board-of-education-meeting
Superintendent responsibilities for book removal Starts at 2:05:00 mark to 2:44:00
Next time NCSD has board workshop or board meeting to discuss library books, they should invite Jack Knocke and other objectors to speak and discuss with this board!
NCSD Destiny library book search tool
Nassau County Books objected to thus far (68)
By Jack Knocke
Jack Knocke
470-295-4365
Jack Knocke is a resident of Fernandina Beach, the Founder/leader of Common Sense Fernandina Beach and was Executive Director of Citizens Defending Freedom- Nassau County.
The views expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Citizens Journal Florida
