Durham librarians urge board to protect second high‑school media coordinator as board proclaims April School Library Month

Dozens of Durham Public Schools media coordinators, students and parents urged the Durham Public Schools Board of Education on April 7 to preserve a second media coordinator position at large high schools and to protect library budgets.

Speakers at public comment described libraries as hubs for literacy, technology support and student well‑being and warned the proposed budget would force libraries to close during instruction, reduce lesson time and leave schools without an adult to supervise students. "With only 1 librarian, we would not actually be able to have any sort of a library program," said Rebecca Stacy, a teacher librarian at Jordan High School.

The plea continued with specific examples from multiple schools. Tara Gold, a teacher librarian at Riverside High School, said cutting the second position would "result in at least a 50% decrease in direct student instruction" and would force the library to close when the librarian is teaching or out on leave. Kim Gugino, the media coordinator at Durham School of the Arts, called school media centers "living, breathing parts of every single school day" and cited this year's circulation and technology support numbers to illustrate growing demand.

Parents and students gave personal testimony. Melanie Koech, an 11th‑grade student at Riverside, said the two‑librarian team provided a safe space and that losing one position would "dramatically" reduce programming. Speakers also noted the libraries' role in equity and multilingual supports: Club Boulevard media coordinator Elizabeth Husketh said careful curation of multilingual materials helped multilingual learners access curriculum after redistricting.

After public comment the board read a proclamation recognizing April 2025 as School Library Month. Gabby Hall, executive director of curriculum and instruction for middle schools, introduced the proclamation and Heidi Perez, media lead and literacy specialist, thanked media coordinators for their work. Board member Miss Byers read the proclamation; the board moved and approved the proclamation by voice vote with no opposition.

Board members and district staff said they heard the public comments and that staffing allocations remain under review as part of the allotment and budget process. Chief Financial Officer Jeremy Teeter told the board the district is "processing the feedback that we've gotten" from principals and staff before any final allotment decisions are made for next year.

The public comment period also included student remarks asking the board to preserve a school dance program at Club Boulevard Elementary. Parents and students described the program's social and emotional benefits. Board and district staff later said the Club Boulevard dance program had been extended for one additional year during a curriculum transition and that longer‑term program placement would be addressed through planning processes.

The board did not vote on staffing changes during the meeting; district leaders said any final staffing allocations will be published with the budget and allotment materials to be shared with the board in follow‑up reports.

A number of media coordinators offered written contact information for further follow up and asked the board to maintain certified positions and a dedicated materials allotment district‑wide.

Ending: District staff said they will continue to collect input from principals and media coordinators as the budget process proceeds and will provide more detailed allotment and staffing documents to the board ahead of the next meeting.