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Parents and teachers urge Sunnybrook to staff school libraries as district cites teacher shortages
Summary
A former district librarian and community members urged Sunnybrook SD 171 to staff certified librarians and ensure students have meaningful access to library books; district leaders said classroom libraries and community partnerships exist and cited teacher shortages as a competing priority.
Members of the public used the visitor comment period to press the Sunnybrook School District 171 board to staff school libraries with certified librarians and to expand meaningful access to books.
Amy Pelkey, who identified herself as having served Sunnybrook SD 171 for 21 years and as a former district librarian, told the board that "our students deserve a comprehensive library program led by a certified school librarian." Pelkey said she was troubled by the district's recent library update and cited Destiny circulation records: "According to the district's Destiny circulation records, during the 2025–26 school year Nathan Hale students did not check out any library books," she said.
Speakers from the community and PTA supported Pelkey's concerns and urged transparency and greater community involvement in library services and programming. One community member, who identified himself as the PTA president during remarks, praised staff efforts while urging the board to prioritize student access and collaboration among parents, teachers and community libraries.
District leaders acknowledged the concern and described steps already taken. The superintendent said classrooms have their own classroom libraries and that the district purchased books in multiple languages; the assistant superintendent said the district will include instruction on how to use the new library spaces during the first teacher institute day. The board also noted constraints posed by a continuing teacher shortage and said staffing classroom positions remains a high priority.
The public exchange did not produce an immediate board directive or vote; members of the public and the board agreed to continue the conversation and to use community and intergovernmental resources where practical.
The meeting adjourned after the public comment period.
