[CALIBK12] Another LMT Loss

[Morin, Linda]

Well friends, I really didn't see it coming. I thought I would survive since I was the only one in the county.

Del Norte Unified School District has decided with the budget crisis to move the Teacher-Librarian into an ALC classroom next year to save money. I had a lot of support from other teachers, students with whom I have done lessons, parents, community residents, even support staff, but no.
Del Norte County is one district, and hired me 3 years ago as their first ever LMT. I have been housed at the central IMC for the last 3 years, providing support to all the schools - some with part time library staff, some with none, lessons to students, collaboration with teachers, selection of materials, support with textbooks, etc. I am told I will be allowed to keep my desk at the IMC, and will supervise an hour a day. The support staff at the IMC is also being cut, from 1 & ½  classified to two ½  classified, resulting in a huge reduction in hours and services. Just when we were making progress. The Superintendent reassures me that this is supposed to be temporary. St. Catherine, St. Jerome, St. Lawrence, watch over us, the dedicated librarians. Heaven help us all.

"Research from eleven states and over 4,000 schools documents that credentialed LMTs  raise achievement scores anywhere from 8-20%. Support personnel alone in an LMC do not raise achievement but credentialed LMTs do. Why? Because the LMT concentrates on teaching and learning rather than on managing a warehouse. When there is no LMT, achievement suffers - its people rather than just things that make the difference." -Loertscher, David V. with Ross J. Todd. Evidence-Based Practice for School Library Media Specialists. Salt Lake City UT: Hi Willow Research & Publishing, 2003.

Linda C. Morin
Library Media Teacher
DNCUSD Librarian
IMC (707) 464-0704

 

 

  

 

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