[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6273000,"mediaKeyId","3005552-3c7603c8b1aab310e63c52fe27f9da81","parentId",3005552,"title","District highlights media specialists’ role: 201,999 checkouts, classroom library review and training needs","audioSeconds",65,"startMs",1428000,"endMs",1493000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3005552-3c7603c8b1aab310e63c52fe27f9da81&start=1428&end=1493","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3005552-3c7603c8b1aab310e63c52fe27f9da81/thumbnail_1428000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6273000/Alachua/School-Districts/Florida/District-highlights-media-specialists-role-201999-checkouts-classroom-library-review-and-training-needs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6273000-bfa604563729d6aa82f0c230fdbb7aa4/orig.mp4?Expires=1776509596&Signature=IHbmZQ0WqZUnqqLuLeL5ayRVJ8ddyHokeJiHwPGMRsJ5e775Rg4IfkxVc~j5z3NF5PLMPNL32krVd5K74e-Sg~WAmV6y0My2yciEmbAV6rACQmrkLbcodLUn6lSZzch71wP0qTC8YaFZSroPVAnfSCf6PuKf~KZDSL7T95mBJMl-zD~NTekts5h8JuZCgaXWVD2QPi5n4Y0-JyMLY39ZFNMdZb9Gua2b938qZeJXxloO5i9N2~xXMzE82-b5n77d58wC46vlzc1NDig5Lapp3iQTxepOXPpmC5Wbd9qaLtIyK9TiXz1zxU3cOsbvuz3UJKa3UapymrnWvsX3wEmNGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alachua County Public Schools, FL","date","2025-04-16T02:20:58Z","article","The Alachua County School District used a presentation at the April 15 board meeting to spotlight the work of its 41 library media specialists and to summarize a year of collection development, classroom library review and professional learning activity.

Patty Duvall, the district lead media specialist, told the board the district had “put books in kids’ hands 201,999 times” so far in the school year and had added 11,747 new acquisitions to school collections. Duvall said media specialists had reviewed 197,383 titles for classroom libraries to ensure compliance with state guidance that classroom titles be reviewed by a certified library media specialist and listed on each school’s website when required.

The presentation also flagged workforce and training issues: district slides cited that roughly 42% of media specialists had fewer than five years’ experience and that about 15% hold formal library‑science training. Duvall and the district said professional development and an asynchronous Canvas course supporting collection development planning had been produced; the district said 58% of media specialists had completed the course and posted three‑year collection development plans on their school websites.

Why it matters

Board members and the superintendent praised the specialists’ work in promoting literacy, media literacy and reading incentives, and noted the role media centers play in student engagement. Dr. Patton and board members asked that the district continue to support training and staffing to maintain certified media specialists in every school. Several board members thanked Duvall personally for technical work she provided to cross‑check classroom lists and for creating database tools used in the review work.

Specific programs and supports described

Duvall described reading incentive programs and grants (including a book‑vending‑machine grant in High Springs through NEFLIN) and classroom activities such as book tastings, blind‑date‑with‑a‑book events and book clubs. She said some media specialists coach robotics teams, support morning news broadcasts and oversee yearbooks in addition to library duties. The presentation said media specialists consult recognized peer‑review journals when selecting titles and involve school community stakeholders in selection decisions.

Board response and next steps

Board members thanked Duvall and asked for continued investment in professional development for media specialists, especially given the workforce numbers the district reported. The superintendent and board said they would highlight the media specialists’ work during the month and explore options to ensure staffing and training meet district goals for literacy and media literacy.

Ending

The board embraced the presentation as recognition of the specialists’ districtwide work and directed staff to continue training and support so schools maintain robust, professionally curated collections.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","School Board Meeting 4-15-25","oneSentenceSummary","District media specialist Patty Duvall presented circulation, acquisitions and program statistics at the April 15 meeting, and board members praised the work while noting professional development needs and that many media specialists are early‑career.","taxTitle","Alachua, School Districts, Florida","taxId",14348,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6273005,"Parents, teachers and students urge Alachua board to block ICE from schools after district memo",420,3215000,3635000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3005552-3c7603c8b1aab310e63c52fe27f9da81&start=3215&end=3635","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3005552-3c7603c8b1aab310e63c52fe27f9da81/thumbnail_3215000.jpg","/articles/6273005/Alachua/School-Districts/Florida/Parents-teachers-and-students-urge-Alachua-board-to-block-ICE-from-schools-after-district-memo","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6273005-afffe0303cb0fc48b5927ca05d36b729/orig.mp4?Expires=1776509596&Signature=hQ031xcpfZCLbkvIzOGltgOSRcOKKJPepiDucTnnbOOVwfZdadviyokqcNM~oT9fwlyg1ziuNCkbmOB~av6mU5-gq59FKUeCpjlSu3G-2wBEZHM6Ob3ajmK6kAJKqEn8l~Y-nsBXzdK2W05tPifW3XHbfFVBi8wTa9v6Ki-5Tp0WiEFaVEjgtOXbxL0SbWy71oiatwTnHdB4VD-gHvhlPFGid6iLc1wrPbdaeUV8XWgyj87G-7R1xiqtSjMZbKfjm4hTlPi5WqQmv~L6naSUjwans5ESGhQy41Cv495tmS9z96OkhXOOWjqEYN05ahd~KYFVfqSOYM~EMSo~tZfHqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of community members used the meeting’s public‑comment period April 15 to press the Alachua County School Board for clearer policies limiting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities in schools, saying recent district guidance raised fear among students and families.

Speakers — including parents, teachers, students and an immigration attorney — said the district’s memo describing staff responsibilities when approached by immigration agents risked turning schools into extensions of federal enforcement. Several speakers said school officials must refuse requests that would separate children from families unless presented with a lawful judicial warrant.

Why the issue surfaced

Public commenters repeatedly referenced a district memo about interactions with ICE that, they said, instructed staff to comply with requests from federal agents. Denise Mendez, introduced herself as an immigration attorney and told the board that such compliance would be unlawful without a judicial warrant or parental consent: “You are literally the last line of defense that these children have before they are snatched from their families,” she said. Doctoral student Laura Franklin told the board that complying with the mandate would force educators to violate the district’s own standards for protecting students’ safety and mental health: “By agreeing to enforce this mandate, you, the school board, would be asking teachers and administrators to violate the standards of ethical conduct that the board itself is responsible for upholding,” she said.

Parents and students described trauma and attendance impacts. Several public speakers said younger students were frightened, cited instances elsewhere in the country where ICE agents attempted school entries, and urged the board to publish clear, written protocols to explain when law‑enforcement or federal agents may enter school property and what notification parents may expect.

Legal points raised by commenters

Multiple commenters referenced legal protections and guidance:

- FERPA (student‑record privacy) and the Fourth Amendment were cited by speakers urging limits on access to children and student records without appropriate legal process. One commenter said Title VI of the Civil Rights Act requires equal access to education regardless of immigration status.

- The immigration attorney, Denise Mendez, urged school officials to require a judicial warrant and parental notification before a child could be removed and said the district had a legal obligation under federal civil‑rights law to provide education without discrimination.

Board response and next steps

Board members acknowledged the volume and intensity of comments. Board members did not take an immediate formal vote or adopt a new policy at the meeting. Several members asked staff for clarification and additional information; the board asked the administration to return with clearer written guidance for parents and staff about existing legal limits, notification practices and the district’s procedures when law enforcement or federal agents seek access to students.

Speakers and themes

Speakers included parents, teachers and students: Monique Constantino (parent), Laura Franklin (doctoral student and former educator), Denise Mendez (immigration attorney), Emily Hind (parent), Rebecca Reagan (Gainesville High School teacher), Leanne Rohn (district teacher of the deaf/hard of hearing), Norell Nolan (parent), students from Gainesville High School and others. A Spanish‑language caucus speaker reiterated community concerns for Spanish‑speaking families and asked for information in languages other than English.

Ending

The board did not adopt new restrictions at the meeting; it asked staff to prepare clarifying communications to families and to return with a written protocol for review. Members said they expected administration to outline the district’s current legal obligations and what the district can and cannot do under state law and federal civil‑rights protections.","Dozens of parents, students and educators told the Alachua County School Board during public comment they expect clearer protections after a district memo described staff compliance with immigration agents; speakers cited FERPA, the Fourth Amendment and Title VI while asking the board to clarify protocols and protect student safety.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6273010,"School board votes to discontinue Rawlings Elementary year‑round pilot after one year",2506,3124000,5630000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3005552-3c7603c8b1aab310e63c52fe27f9da81&start=3124&end=5630","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3005552-3c7603c8b1aab310e63c52fe27f9da81/thumbnail_3124000.jpg","/articles/6273010/Alachua/School-Districts/Florida/School-board-votes-to-discontinue-Rawlings-Elementary-yearround-pilot-after-one-year","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6273010-6f052ee91d5d72e81d1ab5bcb7f42b1a/orig.mp4?Expires=1776509596&Signature=TOPGZXi3pL2KSoYHQOG~VmtZOfWDRf7hGYeDlp-4ebYo9A5t641E4IJ~S59UG4e4mtM1JqjqredmykNU3vULlnGYXv295dzZpk-cmKzI236uSK8hs4onP3YEddSaBX9vDYBLKKIJv5FNeGDmc~PFxLPKXkwuk2RB5P~ta0hxBy-E84OLxDHvqLy4W3kAjJ38QPVSeTcyPEzZda0l8F1Zq~dnR5A76BwosXCzFjeJxWJrNQGOI7ZmdaLkcA0-Jje0IeGA8699NFErvDXKWsSO5TXQtmGc02zlQhPBhyfqb0drQ~axyR77VmqGsbYIlJNO0rU6MZkWytqfURmy4HxnUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Alachua County School Board voted 4–1 April 15 to discontinue the district’s year‑round pilot at Rawlings Elementary School and return the school to the standard 10‑month calendar for 2025–26. Board member Ms. Surdon moved to end the nontraditional calendar and Mr. Vu seconded the motion; Chair Rockwell and Board members Vu and Plavic voted in favor and Dr. McNeely cast the lone dissenting vote.

District staff had presented data showing enrollment and attendance shifts and mixed survey results from families and staff. The presentation, given by district staff supporting Rawlings, described a net withdrawal of 233 students during the year, with 181 of those moves occurring to other schools within Alachua County; 41 students transferred to Metcalf, the presentation said. The district compared FTE counts from two reporting periods and reported roughly a 19–20% decrease in some cohorts year over year.

Why the board acted

School leaders and district staff told the board they saw inconsistent enrollment patterns tied to the year‑round schedule. The administration said Rawlings had an overall attendance average near 89% this year, versus a 92% district average, and noted that when Rawlings was in session on dates when most other schools were not, attendance on some days fell sharply (one date showed 59.1% attendance). The administration and Rawlings leaders also presented academic measures (district progress monitoring and K‑12 LIFT data) that they said showed some short‑term gains in early grades but continued low projections for proficiency in later grades: for example, Rawlings’ third‑grade projection for English language arts was 26% scoring at grade level and 16% in math on a PM2‑based projection; fourth‑grade projections showed low proficiency in both subjects.

Parents and staff surveys were a key part of the record. District staff reported 47 total parent survey responses (about 67% of Rawlings households) and said 34% of respondents reported they were satisfied or very satisfied with the year‑round model while 26% were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied; staff responses were more positive, with 71% of Rawlings staff reporting they were satisfied or very satisfied. The district said 67% of Rawlings households returned the spring survey and that staff participation in the staff survey was high.

Board debate and rationale

Board members who supported ending the pilot described practical burdens for families and staff and pointed to continuing enrollment losses. Mr. Vu said families faced extra childcare costs and scheduling conflicts because Rawlings was sometimes on a different calendar than neighboring schools and that about 20% of the cohort left Rawlings during the year. He said those disruptions were preventing stable attendance and argued the district should prioritize getting families and students back into the classroom on a synchronized calendar.

Dr. McNeely, who voted against the motion, said the school and district had not been given enough time to evaluate the pilot and urged continued support for the Rawlings staff, noting turnover and other implementation challenges that had affected results.

What the board approved and next steps

The board’s action will return Rawlings to the district’s standard calendar for 2025–26. District staff said Rawlings will run a stand‑alone summer school beginning June 9 to provide targeted instruction and avoid clustering summer classes with other sites. The administration also told the board it will bring a proposed district capital and support plan to a future workshop and that it will continue targeted coaching and professional development for Rawlings teachers during the summer.

Clarity and caveats

The district emphasized implementation obstacles during the pilot year: a high share of new teachers at Rawlings (district slides noted about 44% of media‑reported staff were in their first years at the school) and scheduling differences that complicated comparisons to other schools. Board members asked for additional sibling‑attendance data and for clearer alignment of district coaching supports to ensure the school’s instructional staff receive consistent targeted help. Several board members and staff committed to produce follow‑up reports on outcomes and supports after the summer program.

Rawlings’ year‑round pilot, approved by the district as a four‑year state‑authorized pilot, will end with the board’s vote. District staff said they will present follow‑up academic and operational data after summer instruction to help the board monitor student outcomes.

Ending

District staff said they will return to the board with post‑summer measures on progress monitoring and a timeline for implementation of the standard calendar at Rawlings. Dr. McNeely said she would keep advocating for more time and supports for Rawlings staff; other board members said they want a focused, time‑bounded plan for instructional coaching and family outreach to reduce continued churn and attendance gaps.","The Alachua County School Board voted 4–1 on April 15 to end the district’s year‑round pilot at Rawlings Elementary after one year, citing enrollment shifts, scheduling burdens for families and mixed survey results from parents and staff.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District highlights media specialists’ role: 201,999 checkouts, classroom library review and training needs

Parents, teachers and students urge Alachua board to block ICE from schools after district memo

School board votes to discontinue Rawlings Elementary year‑round pilot after one year