The Helena School District will retain a book about horses in the Smith Elementary School Library despite a parent's request to have it removed.

Roxanne Cleasby called for a formal review of a book, titled "Horses" by Juliet Clutton-Brock, in hopes of having it pulled from the shelves at the Smith Elementary School library. The mother of an 8-year-old student, Cleasby filed a Request for Reconsideration of Educational Materials calling for the removal of a book in January.

According to the documents, Cleasby objected to two pages in the book describing the evolutionary origins of the horse -- passages she said were presented as fact, not as theory. The book, from a popular children's series, Eyewitness Books, makes no mention of the possibility of creation theory.

"I just want my daughter to be able to question and have the freedom to make her own choices," Cleasby said.

Helena School 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 Cleasby's complaint and "Horses" over the course of several meetings including a public hearing before recommending to the superintendent that the book be retained in the Smith School library.

Concurring with the committee's decision, Superintendent Bruce Messinger formally made his recommendations to the board to keep the book on the shelves.

While Cleasby has not yet appealed the recommendation to the board of trustees, she has until mid-April to do so. Cleasby said she has discussed with school district administrators the possibility that children's books presenting the theory of divine creation be included in the collection at Smith School.

According to Messinger, the board holds the final decision on whether to keep the book or remove it.

"There are a several other options though," he said. "It doesn't have to always be one or the other."

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