A concerned parent has called into question a library book about horses and wants it removed from an elementary school library.

Roxanne Cleasby, a parent of an 8-year-old student attending Smith Elementary School, filed a Request for Reconsideration of Educational Materials, urging the school district to remove a book from the Smith School library that she believes promotes evolution.

The book, titled "Horses" by Juliet Clutton-Brock, is part of the Eyewitness Books series and explains the origin of horses using the theory of evolution without suggesting the possibility of a creator.

Cleasby's complaint calls for either the removal of the entire book from the school's library or the removal of two pages - eight and nine - in the book that describe the evolutionary process.

Cleasby said she understands that evolution is widely taught in public schools, and said she was not opposed to her daughter being exposed to evolution, but wanted other theories explored as well.

"It's a hypothesis - a theory - and it needs to be presented that way," she said.

Board policy spells out the procedure that is to be used when a parent questions a district library book or the content of a book. It starts with the filing of a Request for Reconsideration by a parent or organization, followed by the appointment of a five-member review committee by the superintendent.

The review committee is made up of parents, librarians and an administrator. The group reviewed the parent's request and the book she questioned last week in an initial meeting held at the Front Street Learning Center.

The final stage of the review process is a public hearing, which is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 27, at 3:30 p.m. Interested parties and concerned members of the public may attend.

After the hearing, the review committee will prepare a written report to District Superintendent Bruce Messinger, who will take into consideration the recommendations of the committee in an ultimate recommendation to the board of trustees. The board members will be charged with the final decision.

"We think the process provides a good opportunity for the complainant to voice her concerns and others to weigh in on the issue as well, through the public hearing," Messinger said.

The review committee will consider a range of options, Messinger said. The book could be removed from the library, or the book could remain in the collection. The review committee could also recommend the book be restricted to appropriate age groups.

If Cleasby disagrees with the committee's recommendations, the superintendent's recommendation to the board or the board's final decision, she will have the opportunity to file a written appeal. If that happens, the board of trustees will review the complaint and the appeal and reconsider the original decision.

The request for the removal of "Horses" from Smith School is only the second challenge the Helena School District has seen regarding library books or instructional materials in the past decade.

Cleasby said she brought forth the challenge to shed light on the debate surrounding the theories of evolution and creation.

"I'm sure the school's curriculum is full of it through and through," she said. "And I'm sure that I can't challenge all of it, but I think there needs to be more public awareness on the creation side. There's been lots of great scientific research done on creation that needs to be considered."

Reporter Laura Tode can be reached at 447-4081 or laura.tode@helenair.com.