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Community speakers urge Schertz‑Cibolo‑Universal City ISD to retain certified librarians
Summary
Two public commenters told trustees that replacing certified librarians with paraprofessionals or automated cataloging risks students’ information literacy and reading outcomes; the board could not respond during public comment and reserved discussion for later.
Two community members at Monday’s Schertz‑Cibolo‑Universal City ISD meeting urged trustees to preserve certified librarian positions the district is considering eliminating as part of budget adjustments.
Tara Johnson, a district graduate who identified herself as the son of a district library employee, told the board that certified librarians possess research and collection‑development skills that cannot be replicated in a two‑day training. "There is a degree that cannot be replaced from master's degree compared to someone who has been trained for two days," Johnson said, adding concern about relying on automated tools such as Destiny for collection development.
Abigail Gordy, a parent of five, also urged trustees to keep certified librarians in classrooms, arguing they teach media and information literacy and help drive the district’s college, career and military readiness measures. "Far from simply distributing books, they instruct students in media and information literacy," Gordy said.
Under the board’s public comment rules read at the start of the meeting, trustees did not engage in discussion during the public comment period. Administration and trustees will consider staffing decisions during subsequent agenda items and in closed session personnel deliberations.
The record does not show a board response to the speakers’ specific requests during public comment; any formal staffing decisions were addressed later in closed session and in the budget workshop portion of the meeting.
