[ISLMA-Share] ISBE Listening Tour...what to expect

Wed Sep 7 09:22:20 CDT 2016

Lauren and Everyone Attending a Listening Tour Meeting,

I want to thank you for speaking on behalf of school libraries and school
librarians.  Having a voice and presence at the table is essential for
shaping the coming years, and your presence is invaluable.  Again, thank
you.

Sincerely,

Ms. Rachel Fuller
Director of Library Media Services
Rochester Community Unit School District
rfuller at rochester3a.net
RHS Library website
<https://sites.google.com/a/rochester3a.net/rochester-c-u-s-d-library/>

On Wed, Sep 7, 2016 at 7:56 AM, Email list for the Illinois School Library
Media Association <islma at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:

> Hi everyone--
>
> I attended the ISBE "ESSA" Listening Tour in Freeport last night...and
> want to share with everyone how the format works.
>
> There is a sign-in sheet with a spot for you to indicate that you wish to
> speak.
>
> The first part of the evening was a slideshow presentation by ISBE of the
> work they have done so far in crafting a draft plan for the State of
> Illinois.  The plan is clearly in development...and there is a LOT of room
> to weigh in and provide feedback.  The slideshow is posted on the ISBE
> website...but honestly it would be difficult to make sense of it without
> listening to the narrative provided by ISBE.
>
> After the slideshow, those people who wished to speak, "provide
> testimony," were given 3-5 minutes each.  ISBE would like written
> "testimony" to be submitted by everyone who chooses to speak at one of the
> stops on the listening tour...so your remarks become a part of the
> permanent record of the development of the state plan.  There are two
> people on laptops taking notes during the entire session, but if you don't
> have a written statement (I didn't), you can submit the written statement
> to this email:  essa at isbe.net
>
> After the formal "testimonies," there was an open discussion forum and an
> opportunity to ask questions and raise issues.  In attendance were a state
> representative, regional superintendent, administrative and teacher
> representatives from various districts.  There were approximately 30 people
> in attendance.  The press was there right at the beginning, but did not
> stay for the actual presentation.
>
> There were four people who provided actual "testimony" at the session last
> night and HALF of them were librarians (Jane Lenser and myself).
>
> I am going to write up my testimony and submit it to ISBE...but here's the
> short version of what I had to say.  I was prepared to talk to the "talking
> points" that Patti sent out, but while listening to the slideshow
> presentation, it became obvious that there was an opportunity to make a
> very large point about school libraries that didn't fit into any of the
> provided talking points.
>
> One of the things that the new state plan will provide is for a variety of
> indicators to be used statewide that will help to evaluate how individual
> schools are performing.  The working group has identified about 40
> indicators that could be used (attendance, suspension rates, readiness for
> high school, etc.).  Nothing has been decided, and every "example" on the
> slideshow is just a hypothetical.  Many of the examples were difficult to
> quantify.  So here is what I said:
>
> It is absolutely irrefutable that certified school librarians have a
> positive impact on student achievement.  We know this from over 30 studies
> that use hard, quantifiable data.  If ISBE made having a certified school
> librarian in an effective school library program one of those indicators,
> we know it would improve student achievement and at the same time it would
> provide schools with the incentive to hire properly trained school
> librarians in every single building in the state.  It would be easy to
> measure.  It would be effective.  It would transform the educational
> experience of an entire generation of students.
>
> When I spoke about this, the people from ISBE were VERY interested...it
> seemed to me that this idea--using school libraries and certified school
> librarians as an indicator for individual school performance--had not been
> discussed, and they were intrigued.  The audience response was positive as
> well.
>
> I will write this up and send it along to ISBE...
>
> Patti:  do you want a copy of what I send to ISBE?  If so, please let me
> know what email to send it to...
>
> Lauren
>
>
> Lauren Collen, MLIS
>
> Librarian
>
> Machesney Elementary
> ------------------------------
> *From:* islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info [islma-bounces at list.
> railslibraries.info] on behalf of Email list for the Illinois School
> Library Media Association [islma at list.railslibraries.info]
> *Sent:* Tuesday, September 06, 2016 3:22 PM
> *To:* islma at list.railslibraries.info
> *Subject:* Re: [ISLMA-Share] NEW stop on the ESSA listening tour - Oct 5
> in Sycamore
>
> Thanks, I just signed up to go listen in DeKalb. I tried to find your
> earlier posts to remind me what I should be listening for or if I need to
> speak up.  Could you resend that information to me? cstracne at syc427.org
>
> *Peace,*
>
> *Coni Stracner Teacher Librarian @SMS  *
> *  *
> *  I am reading:  All the Light We Cannot See  by Anthony Doerr  *
> *I just finished reading: *
> * Clan of the Cave Bear   by Jean M. Auel  *
> *I am listening to:   Love in the Time of Cholera  by  Gabriel Garcia
> Marquez *
> *Ask me about these books!*
>
> On Tue, Sep 6, 2016 at 3:00 PM, Email list for the Illinois School Library
> Media Association <islma at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:
>
>> I’ve just learned that the ISBE has added another stop on the listening
>> tour. For those of you in the DeKalb/Sycamore area, you can now sign up to
>> attend the October 5 meeting. http://tinyurl.com/jjqnf8t
>>
>> Patti Fleser
>> Library Media Specialist
>> Deer Path Middle School
>> Lake Forest, IL
>> 847-604-7433
>> @DPM_Library
>>
>> President, Illinois School Library Media Association
>>
>> "...a library is more than a collection of dusty old books. It is a place
>> to learn, explore, and grow!” *Escape from Mr. Lemoncello**’s Library*
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>> Any communication sent or received by District 67 and/or District 115 is
>> a public record and may be subject to inspection or copying under the
>> Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
>>
>>
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>
>
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