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Large public comment turnout urges HISD to reverse library and teacher terminations; Harvard Elementary librarian termination draws sustained protests
Summary
Hundreds of public commenters including many students urged the board to rescind a recommended termination of Harvard Elementary librarian Dania Garcia and to restore librarians and wraparound staff across the district; speakers linked school-level cuts to equity, academic supports and declining morale.
More than 120 people signed up to speak at the June 12 Houston ISD board meeting and a large proportion of public comments focused on the district's staffing decisions: parents, students, teachers and retired librarians urged trustees to retain librarians and reinstate wraparound supports. A concentrated cluster of speakers asked the board to rescind a recommended termination of Harvard Elementary librarian Dania (Dania Garcia Giampetro), saying her removal would harm student literacy programming.
Student speakers repeatedly described Garcia's programs (a —40-book challenge,' —1 Book 1 School' campaign, name-that-book team, talent shows, and annual field trips) and testified that she provides mentorship, outreach and extracurricular coordination beyond library duties. Multiple adult speakers, including teachers and parents, said Garcia organizes large volunteer and fundraising efforts, runs a long-running junior librarian program and leads field trips and competitions. Several presenters said Garcia was out of town chaperoning a student trip at the time she was told of the recommended termination.
Retired librarians, current HISD teachers, principals and community advocates also testified more broadly about the decline in certified librarians across the district: speakers said many campuses' libraries no longer have certified media specialists and that the loss is disproportionately concentrated in high-poverty schools. Several speakers described federal ESSER-funded book purchases and argued those resources are inaccessible without certified library staff.
Public speakers also raised related concerns about teacher nonrenewals and NES (New Education System) practices, HVAC failures, lack of soap in restrooms, special education identification and staffing decisions. Commenters called for transparency in personnel decisions, discipline-equity reviews and independent audits for special-education compliance.
The board did not take formal action during public comment. Several trustees thanked speakers and recognized the emotional tone of the remarks. Administration and board members acknowledged the community's concerns; in open session the board later approved the district budget and personnel decisions after a closed session. The public record shows the community raised equity, staffing and process concerns at length and asked for reversals or policy changes.
