Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Library Staffing Aet topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Trustees approve temporary staffing plan for elementary libraries; debate over academic enrichment and GT roles continues
Summary
With seven librarian vacancies persisting, trustees approved allowing administration to fill vacant elementary library roles with paraprofessionals and later voted to hire additional GT/AET teachers; administration said the approach preserves library oversight while the district pursues long‑term solutions and training.
Trustees on Wednesday approved a staffing plan to prevent gaps in library services at elementary campuses while the district addresses persistent librarian vacancies. The board voted 6–0 to permit administration to hire paraprofessionals to fill currently vacant elementary librarian positions so every campus has library support when classes begin.
Administrators and librarians told the board they have been unable to hire certified librarians for several vacancies. “We now have seven vacancies across the district — four at the secondary level and three at the elementary level,” said Dr. Ghosh, describing ongoing recruiting difficulties and the district’s intent to provide library oversight even if certified librarians are not immediately available. Dr. Ghosh said a temporary staffing plan that pairs paraprofessionals with certified librarians on a rotation would preserve library services and meet statutory and policy requirements for collection oversight and challenges.
The staffing path generated a separate but related motion. After further discussion the board voted 5–1 to add six more teachers to the district’s gifted-and‑talent/academic‑enrichment (GT/AET) program and direct GT teachers to provide academic enrichment across elementary campuses. Trustee Kenoyer moved the second motion; Trustee Macias seconded. Administration said those positions could be funded in part with federal Title funds where allowable and that reconstituting the district’s AET staffing would restore the program the district had previously operated.
Administrators explained financial and operational tradeoffs. Dr. Ghosh said the proposed rotation and use of paraprofessionals would produce an immediate local budget savings compared with hiring a certified librarian in every vacant slot; she estimated that specific reshaping would result in “an immediate savings of around $400,000 to the local budget based on staffing in this way.” District curriculum staff noted that AET lessons exist but that librarians had not yet received full training on the new enrichment curriculum. Librarians who spoke in public comment opposed splitting librarians’ time between campuses and said they lacked training and materials for AET lessons.
Trustees and administrators said this course is intended as a near‑term, operational fix so students have library access at the start of school while the district continues recruitment and the planned efficiency audit and solvency work. Dr. Fields said administration would return with implementation details and a timeline for rotations and training.
Why it matters: Libraries and academic‑enrichment services are both instructional supports; the board’s actions prioritize ensuring library access for students at every campus this fall while restoring AET/G T staffing in a way administrators say is financially feasible under current hiring conditions.
What was decided: The board authorized hiring paraprofessionals into vacant elementary library posts (6–0) and approved adding six GT/AET teachers to reconstitute the program with GT staff providing AET services (5–1). Administrators will report back on schedules, training and budget adjustments.
