Last weekend’s SkyTree book fair at Riverbend High School in Spotsylvania County raises several questions – among them, who sponsored the event and where will the proceeds from the book sales go.
Connections between Spotsylvania schools, SkyTree Book Fairs and Brave Books
SkyTree is a new organization, with an application for nonprofit status pending with the IRS, that describes itself on its website as “a school-choice alternative to the sexually explicit content distributed in Scholastic’s book fairs.”
Its main spokesperson is former actor and conservative media personality Kirk Cameron. Cameron is also the spokesperson for Brave Books, a publisher of “faith-based children’s books,” according to its website.
Brave Books is the publisher of Cameron’s book, “As You Grow” – which is about a tree named “Sky Tree” – along with titles by other conservative public figures such as Michael Flynn, briefly the national security advisor under Donald Trump, and Dana Loesch, former spokesperson for the National Rifle Association.
Riley Lee, head of book fairs for SkyTree, was previously head of finance and administration for Brave Books, and SkyTree’s book fairs carry Brave Books titles, along with other books that are selected for “family-friendly values,” according to its website.
Earlier this year, Brave Books donated two copies each of 26 of its titles to Spotsylvania County Public Schools. The School Board approved the donation without discussion as part of the consent agenda at its Aug. 7 meeting, while taking five months to “review” 92 other books – including titles from the “Elephant and Piggie” series by Mo Williams, the “Dog Man” and “Captain Underpants” series by Dav Pilkey and the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series by Jeff Kinney – that had been donated to Smith Station Elementary by teachers and librarians.
Who hosted the Dec. 2 book fair?
Though the school division told the Advance that no division funds were used to bring the Dec. 2 SkyTree book fair to Spotsylvania, the event was described on Facebook as being “hosted” by Jon Russell and Tara Mergener, respectively the division’s chief of staff and chief communications officer.
“Spotsylvania School Superintendent Mark Taylor invites you to a Christmas book fair with Kirk Cameron,” the Facebook description of the event read.
Cameron also suggested in interviews leading up to the Dec. 2 event that the school division was hosting it.
In a video announcing the Riverbend event, which was posted on Nov. 13 to X, formerly known as Twitter, Cameron said, “The superintendent of the district is so excited about this; they have gotten rid of Scholastic, and they have put in SkyTree book fairs.”
SkyTree book fairs are not replacing Scholastic book fairs in all Spotsylvania County schools, the division told the Advance on Tuesday.
“Book fairs are up to individual schools,” an unidentified spokesperson said in an email.
According to information the Advance received through a request under the Freedom of Information Act, Mark Taylor reserved the school for the SkyTree event under the title “SCPS Superintendent.”
The address given for the address of the organization reserving the school is the address of the school division’s administrative offices, 8020 River Stone Drive.
The form also indicates that the organization reserving the high school for the SkyTree event is “a Spotsylvania County nonprofit, school-related organization (PTA/O, PTSA), student-run (organization) or a school advisory committee.”
The reservation form asks the organization renting the school facility to attach proof of its nonprofit or school-related status, but no such attachment was included in the documents provided to the Advance.
The estimated charge for renting the school for the SkyTree book fair was $970, according to the form.
The form was approved on Oct. 30 by the school principal or designee, and on Nov. 29 by the executive director of operations.
The Advance requested contracts and documents related to the reservation of the high school for the SkyTree event on Nov. 16.
Where will the proceeds go?
The school division told the Advance on Wednesday that 20% of the proceeds from the Dec. 2 book fair “are going to SCPS to support literacy,” without providing details.
In response to a follow-up question about where the remaining 80% will go, an unidentified division spokesperson said, “That would be a question for SkyTree.”
SkyTree has not yet responded to a request from the Advance for this information.
Scholastic book fairs generate proceeds for the schools that host them in terms of “Scholastic dollars,” which can be used to purchase books, curriculum materials and furniture or decor for classrooms and libraries.
Schools receive 30% of the revenue in Scholastic dollars from sales that total $1,500 or less; 40% from sales that total $1,500 to $3,499; and 50% from sales of $3,500 and above, according to Scholastic’s book fair website.
Scholastic, though it has significant name recognition, is just one of many book fair options for schools. Others include Literati (which recently acquired Follett), Bedford Falls and Bookworm Central, which is based in Manassas, Virginia.
by Adele Uphaus
MANAGING EDITOR AND CORRESPONDENT
