Parents press district after plan to replace four elementary Spanish positions with library/media specialists

Parents and elementary educators pressed the Royal Oak Schools Board of Education over changes to elementary language instruction and new STEM/media plans during public comment and the curriculum presentation.

Jessica Spencer, identified at the meeting as a parent at Oak Ridge Elementary, told the board she was “upset at the elementary school Spanish cuts” and said the main worry was a lack of planning and communication. “Teachers and parents weren't consulted at all. Teachers were notified hours before parents were,” Spencer said in public comment.

During the curriculum presentation, district staff described the change as a staffing realignment rather than a budget cut. Dr. Ioannis (identified in the meeting as a district staff member presenting curriculum) said the district plans to replace four current elementary Spanish teacher positions with four certified library/media teacher positions. “The four Spanish teachers we have are gonna be replaced with four library media teachers,” he said, describing the new positions’ emphasis on five areas: information and media literacy, digital citizenship, career readiness, inquiry and research skills, and hands‑on STEM/project‑based learning.

District staff said the positions will be posted internally and interviews were scheduled for June 18. The library/media teachers are expected to work across buildings in scheduled blocks so classroom teachers can use the time for planning; existing library media paraprofessionals would remain in place to support daily operations.

Several parents and educators at the meeting expressed anxieties about screen time and whether this change would increase students’ time on devices. Katie Slages, who identified herself as an early childhood educator and a parent, said she worried about “the amount of screen time that is potential with this” and asked that technology be balanced with hands‑on activities for early grades.

Superintendent Mary Beth Fitzpatrick and curriculum staff said they would provide more detail after hiring and involve the new teachers in curriculum development; the district also described preliminary plans to maintain language and cultural exposure in Keller’s PYP/IB program through coordination with the PYP coordinator. The board did not take a formal vote on program changes at the meeting; the discussion on the record was presentation and public comment.

Speakers asked for clearer, data‑driven explanations and timelines; multiple parents requested follow‑up meetings and additional written information from district staff.