[CALIBK12] Defending/explaining our positions

[Jane Lofton]

Dear CALIB people,

As is the case for so many of us, the Las Virgenes USD teacher librarians
are all on the possible cut list this year. Last week, we attended a school
board study session, where they discussed the possibility of significant
cutbacks in TL positions. We asked to have the opportunity at a subsequent
meeting to explain better what we do, and, as a result, were invited to meet
with our assistant superintendent this week. For the meeting, we prepared a
set of "talking points" we handed her as the basis for our discussion that
included the replacement value figures for our collections; staffing ratios
- national, California, and our district; what TLs do; what would go without
us; what we do versus classroom teachers; and what we do versus library
clerks. Fortunately, the meeting went really well! She was definitely
impressed with the information we put together. Our Board's message has been
that, while they need to make cuts, they will keep them as far from students
as possible. We felt that we proved that cutting us would be seriously
detrimental to our students. We are optimistic based on her responses at the
meeting and her follow up email the next morning that our administration is
committed to finding at least an interim, if not ideal, way to avoid cutting
our positions this year.

While our "talking points" were definitely put together in a hurry and I am
sure could be improved, I am sharing them (in the attached "LVUSD Libraries
Budget Issues" file") with the group in case they may help any of you as a
starting point. I figure that we will help each other best if we share
everything we can to avoid "reinventing the wheel." Feel free to adapt and
use any of what we wrote, and to share any improved versions to help all
CALIBBERs.

Along with giving our assistant superintendent the "LVUSD LIbraries Budget
Issues" doc file, we also gave her several articles, including the Topsey
Smalley study I learned about on the AASL forum from Sara Kelly Johns (also
attached) and the Scholastic article you can access at this link:
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3748779 .

Optimistic that we'll survive, and wishing everyone the best in these
difficult financial times :) ...
__________________________
Jane Lofton
Teacher-Librarian
Lindero Canyon Middle School
5844 Larboard Ln.
Agoura Hills, CA 91301
(818)889-2134 x230
email: jane at lofton.com or jlofton at lvusd.org 
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