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Parents, librarians urge board to protect school libraries and specials; board begins first read of library policy
Summary
Dozens of public commenters urged Mesa Public Schools’ Governing Board on Nov. 13 to preserve library staff, library budgets and elementary “specials” (music, art, PE). The board held a first reading of updated library policy (5‑209) and an accompanying procedure; members proposed minor wording edits and asked legal counsel to ensure the opt‑out
During the public‑comment period at the Nov. 13 Mesa Public Schools Governing Board meeting, numerous librarians, teachers, parents and community members urged the board to preserve library staff and “specials” (music, art, physical education) at elementary schools. Commenters described library media specialists as the only staff member who regularly sees every child each week and said library instruction supports literacy, digital research skills and equitable access to books.
Caller themes and examples
- Several library staff and district library specialists urged the board to maintain full‑time library positions and highlighted responsibilities beyond book checkout: instruction, curriculum support, digital citizenship and literacy interventions. “A library is not an optional extra but is a vital part of how children learn,” one speaker said.
- Parents and a district library specialist described programs that expand access (for example, full‑campus laptop distribution at Roosevelt Elementary funded by philanthropy) and urged the board to consider library and specials funding as…
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