Parents and students urge board to reinstate high school library clerk position
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Summary
Parents and students urged the Coos Bay SD 9 board to reinstate a recently eliminated high school library clerk position, saying the clerk’s support enables library programming and regional competition teams.
Parents and students addressed the board during public comment to request reinstatement of a high school library clerk assistant position that was recently cut.
"Without Gracie Jensen's help, Catherine Hampton, the Marshfield librarian, would not have the temporal flexibility to teach the junior high's OBOB class and assist with the OBOB teams at both Millicombe and Sunset schools," Andrea Coleman told the board, reading testimony and remarks from several junior-high students.
Coleman introduced comments from students including Kendall Coleman, Weston Gibbons and others who described Hampton as a key educator and coach. "She is always encouraging and helpful… Losing her would be like losing the soul of OBOB," one excerpt read.
Coleman said her daughter competed at the regional Oregon Battle of the Books and that the librarian and clerk combined to provide essential support for students and team activities. The parent asked the board to "please don't relocate Miss Jensen because Mrs. Hampton is OBOB's GOAT," a remark read aloud that the speaker attributed to a student.
Board members acknowledged the public comment portion of the meeting but did not take immediate formal action on the staffing issue during the session. The board's personnel and budget discussions later in the agenda will govern staffing decisions and any possible restoration of the clerk position.