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

Thu Sep 8 16:15:59 CDT 2016

Oh, and another thing, on the slide that listed rules for offering
testimony, the first thing was only one person per organization. I wondered
if they had added that after the two librarians were 50% of the speakers.
Also, after testimony there was a long time for questions. I think that
really would extend the time to speak if you think on your feet better than
I do.

On Thu, Sep 8, 2016 at 4:12 PM, Carolyn Mesick <cmesick at molineschools.org>
wrote:

> I attended the listening tour last night in Moline. There were around 30
> folks there, mostly area administrators, one school board member and
> Representative Pat Vershoore. Only two people signed up to give testimony.
> One was a retired SPED teacher. When called upon, he declined to speak and
> offered his written comments to be added to the record. So, I was the only
> one who offered testimony. I couldn't get a sense of how it was received
> except for the gentleman in front of me who nodded appreciatively twice. My
> own superintendent, assistant superintendent and principals made no comment
> to me at all. I basically paraphrased the talking points provided,
> concentrating on accountability, standards, whole child and closing with
> the paragraph that Lauren shared with us yesterday. (Thank you, Lauren!)
>
> The comments from administrators at this meeting largely circled around is
> this just reinventing a wheel that didn't work in the first place? And, why
> can't you just let us do what we know will work and leave us alone.
>
> I wonder if future speakers might want to guide thoughts toward the fact
> that we are already here, and trained, and if every building had a
> librarian, we would all be better equipped to do what needs to be done. A
> best of both worlds scenario. Does that make sense?
>
> I am very proud of our organization that we had the heads up, got the
> talking points, filled each other in on how things went to be better
> prepared, and are a presence with which to be reckoned. No one else at my
> meeting knew what to expect and I appreciate those of you who wrote in, and
> drafted the talking points, and got us all organized. Thank you!
>
> On Wed, Sep 7, 2016 at 4:46 PM, Email list for the Illinois School Library
> Media Association <islma at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:
>
>> It is so encouraging to see our group mobilize to advocate for school
>> libraries and especially the underfunded students of Illinois.
>>
>> I am sorry I am not able to attend tonight's listening session in Moline
>> due to a family issue, but Carolyn Mesick, our department chair, shared
>> comments with the rest of our Library Media Specialists after school today.
>> She will do a great job for us in the Quad Cities. Thanks Carolyn and all!
>>
>>
>>
>> *Angela Florence*
>> Library Media Specialist
>> Moline-Coal Valley Community Unit District 40
>> aflorenc at molineschools.org
>>
>> Franklin (M,T) x 8272
>> Butterworth  (W, Th, Friday AM) x 8216
>> Willard  (Friday PM) x 1620
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Sep 7, 2016 at 10:14 AM, Email list for the Illinois School
>> Library Media Association <islma at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:
>>
>>> Thank you for attending in Moline tonight! Please use Lauren’s comments
>>> to guide you. But please also bring the talking points I sent directly to
>>> those attending this week as well to help guide you. If you’d like me to
>>> send those again, please email me directly at president at islma.org
>>> Thank you,
>>>
>>> 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*
>>>
>>> From: <islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info> on behalf of Email list
>>> for the Illinois School Library Media Association <
>>> islma at list.railslibraries.info>
>>> Reply-To: "islma at list.railslibraries.info" <
>>> islma at list.railslibraries.info>
>>> Date: Wednesday, September 7, 2016 at 9:29 AM
>>> To: "islma at list.railslibraries.info" <islma at list.railslibraries.info>
>>> Subject: Re: [ISLMA-Share] ISBE Listening Tour...what to expect
>>>
>>> I'm going to the one in Moline tonight. Would it be inappropriate to
>>> copy and paste Lauren's statement into my testimony? I also am not good on
>>> the fly and was planning to write something.
>>>
>>> On Wed, Sep 7, 2016 at 9:00 AM, Email list for the Illinois School
>>> Library Media Association <islma at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Lauren,
>>>> Thank you so much for your quick feedback. We weren’t sure of the
>>>> format, so this gives us a better idea of how to help prepare everyone who
>>>> attends these meetings.
>>>> Please copy me on what you send to isbe – you can send it to
>>>> president at islma.org
>>>>
>>>> And to everyone else – you can see HOW important this truly is. Please
>>>> sign up to attend a meeting. We still have 2 meetings that no one has
>>>> signed up for:
>>>> Sept 19 – Carbondale
>>>> Sept 21 – Quincy
>>>> If you’re in one of these areas and can attend, please sign up. (
>>>> http://tinyurl.com/jjqnf8t)
>>>>
>>>> Thank you!
>>>>
>>>> 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*
>>>>
>>>> From: <islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info> on behalf of Email list
>>>> for the Illinois School Library Media Association <
>>>> islma at list.railslibraries.info>
>>>> Reply-To: "islma at list.railslibraries.info" <
>>>> islma at list.railslibraries.info>
>>>> Date: Wednesday, September 7, 2016 at 7:56 AM
>>>> To: "islma at list.railslibraries.info" <islma at list.railslibraries.info>
>>>> Subject: [ISLMA-Share] ISBE Listening Tour...what to expect
>>>>
>>>> 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)
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> ISLMA-Share mailing list
>>>>> islma at list.railslibraries.info
>>>>> For list archives and subscription options, visit:
>>>>> http://list.railslibraries.info/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/islma
>>>>> To unsubscribe, send a message to:
>>>>> islma-leave at list.railslibraries.info
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> ISLMA-Share mailing list
>>>> islma at list.railslibraries.info
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ------------------------------
>>>> 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)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ------------------------------
>>>> 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)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> ISLMA-Share mailing list
>>>> islma at list.railslibraries.info
>>>> For list archives and subscription options, visit:
>>>> http://list.railslibraries.info/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/islma
>>>> To unsubscribe, send a message to:
>>>> islma-leave at list.railslibraries.info
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Carolyn Mesick
>>> Library Media Specialist,
>>> Moline Sr. High School
>>> District Coordinator of Library Services,
>>> Moline District 40
>>> 309.743.8902
>>>
>>> *"If I had influence with the good fairy who is supposed to preside over
>>> the christening of all children, I should ask that her gift to each child
>>> in the world be a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last
>>> throughout life."    -Rachel Carson*
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> ISLMA-Share mailing list
>>> islma at list.railslibraries.info
>>> For list archives and subscription options, visit:
>>> http://list.railslibraries.info/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/islma
>>> To unsubscribe, send a message to:
>>> islma-leave at list.railslibraries.info
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ------------------------------
>>> 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)
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ------------------------------
>>> 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)
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> ISLMA-Share mailing list
>>> islma at list.railslibraries.info
>>> For list archives and subscription options, visit:
>>> http://list.railslibraries.info/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/islma
>>> To unsubscribe, send a message to:
>>> islma-leave at list.railslibraries.info
>>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> ISLMA-Share mailing list
>> islma at list.railslibraries.info
>> For list archives and subscription options, visit:
>> http://list.railslibraries.info/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/islma
>> To unsubscribe, send a message to:
>> islma-leave at list.railslibraries.info
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Carolyn Mesick
> Library Media Specialist,
> Moline Sr. High School
> District Coordinator of Library Services,
> Moline District 40
> 309.743.8902
>
> *"If I had influence with the good fairy who is supposed to preside over
> the christening of all children, I should ask that her gift to each child
> in the world be a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last
> throughout life."    -Rachel Carson*
>

-- 
Carolyn Mesick
Library Media Specialist,
Moline Sr. High School
District Coordinator of Library Services,
Moline District 40
309.743.8902

*"If I had influence with the good fairy who is supposed to preside over
the christening of all children, I should ask that her gift to each child
in the world be a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last
throughout life."    -Rachel Carson*
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