Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Library Staffing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Librarians and volunteers warn board that proposed cuts will shrink student access to libraries
Summary
Librarians, volunteers and teachers told the board that reducing librarian positions to 0.6 FTE at some sites will lock library doors, reduce supervision and programming, and disproportionately harm socioeconomically disadvantaged and English‑learner students.
Multiple speakers — a parent volunteer, school librarians and teachers — urged the board to reconsider reductions that would reduce some librarians to 0.6 full‑time equivalent (FTE).
Lillian Luevanos, a parent volunteer, warned that reduced librarian time would eliminate programs such as Read Across America, book fairs and lunch‑time reading spaces. Imelda Alvarez, the teacher librarian at Montgomery Middle School for 17 years, detailed operational consequences: if reduced to 0.6 FTE she would be available for roughly 2 hours 33 minutes a day instead of eight, forcing libraries to lock doors during some breaks, eliminating study space and removing librarian‑led programming and student support. Alvarez said incoming students arrive below grade level on average, called out high proportions of socioeconomically disadvantaged and English‑learner students, and argued those students rely on full‑time librarian services for literacy supports.
Teachers and other commenters described libraries as vital learning spaces where librarians triage technical issues and support teachers’ instruction; they said reductions would have ripple effects on student learning and campus climate. Trustee and staff responses acknowledged the concerns; the board did not take an immediate vote on librarian staffing at this meeting.
