Check It Out

It was busy day on the library today. Today I mentored a colleague as she created a blog for libraries.  Today I wrote to parents about the impact of the budget cuts on the library program.  This blog was put  on the back burner.

This evening however, I want to share the open letter to parents and introduce you to a new blog.  There is also a gour on Facebook.

Dear Parents,
I don’t know how aware of the looming budget challenges facing Washington state. You may have seen in the local newspaper that these challenges will affect the Evergreen School District. It means that Silver Star will be affected.
The district has a proposed list of cuts posted on its website: http://www.evergreenps.org/Pages/default.aspx. It is difficult to know exactly how the cuts will happen until the work of the legislature is complete.
However, I want to share with you that one of the largest proposed cuts affects the library program. It is proposed that the library assistants be cut to half time. In my view, this will affect the entire school. Having a full time library assistant makes it possible:

• For students to be in the library at all times of the school day.
• For students to have two qualified adults to help with research skills.
• For me to collaborate with teachers and provide seamless lessons between the classroom and the library. This is a critical piece in student achievement.
• For students to have two qualified adults who help students to find “just fit” books.

I recognize that there may need to be cuts but I am hopeful that they will be minimal. Evergreen is known for its great library media program throughout the state and now it is facing a pretty dramatic cut.
The district wants to hear from parents and patrons. They have had several public meeting to take input from the community. I am hoping that parents will speak up for libraries and ask the district to re-consider the library media assistant reduction.

There are several places that parents can get information and/or let the public know of their support for libraries and all programs that directly impact students.

Please feel free to visit:
http://cutthecuts.blogspot.com

or on Facebook there is a “Cut the Cuts to Kids” group.

You can also email the school board and the superintendent as well.

In my thirty-five years of teaching, I have never had to ask for parent support in this manner. The district has a goal that students graduate able to compete in the world community. A key component is a fully funded library media program. It makes me sad to think that our school district is going to suffer from budget cuts. This translates into kids losing out.

Sincerely,
Jone Rush MacCulloch, NBCT AKA “Ms Mac”
Library Media Specialist
Silver Star School

I never thought I would have to ask for parents and the community to support libraries.  This makes me so sad.

My colleague and her assistant have created Cut the Cuts: Libraries are Academic, a blog to inform students, parents, and the community about the importance of libraries. Visit and comment especially if you are a member of my school community.

Happy Reading.

MsMac