Teacher-librarian warns schedule changes have left four elementary libraries without service; asks district for paraprofessional support
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Sign Up Free
Summary
A Valley View teacher-librarian told the board that schedule changes removed library time at four elementary schools and greatly reduced services at others, and asked the district to use evidence-based funding to add paraprofessional library support for large schools.
Katie Thomas, a teacher-librarian at BJ Ward Elementary, addressed the Valley View board during public comment on Sept. 22, saying schedule changes this year have left four elementary libraries with no time to run library programs and have drastically reduced services at others. "Because of our recent changes to the special schedule, four of our elementary schools now have no time at all to run a library program," she said.
Thomas said the loss will cancel district family reading night for 2025–26 and could end other library-supported activities such as book fairs, book clubs, Battle of the Books and STEAM enrichment at the elementary level. "These are not extras. These are the programs that inspire all kids to be readers," she said.
Request and funding suggestion Thomas asked the district to provide staffing support in the form of a paraprofessional for schools with large student populations so all students have access to library instruction and programming. She pointed the board to the state’s evidence-based funding guidance and noted that the budget being presented recommended using a portion of EBF dollars for librarian aides. Thomas cited a line in the state’s fiscal documents referenced in the presentation: part 2, section 5, core investments in the fiscal year 2025 adjusted adequacy target, which she said included a suggested amount of $1,600,000 for librarian aides.
Why it matters: School libraries provide literacy instruction, family engagement activities and supports for students with accommodations. Thomas told the board that without time and staffing, those opportunities disappear and “we create a system of haves and have nots among our students.”
Board response and context District staff did not provide a substantive response during the public-comment period; the board later completed its business, including budget adoption. Thomas urged families to contact the district to request that libraries be protected and supported.
Ending: Thomas closed by stressing equity and student outcomes: "When libraries are cut, students are the ones who lose. Please speak up and ask the district to protect our libraries."