[aisle] reducing library position

Mon Apr 19 04:38:19 CDT 2021

I'd like to echo the earlier comment about referring to the federal funding
that districts are receiving to help fight cuts.

Earlier this month the ALA Public Policy and Advocacy office published
the American
Rescue Plan - State Funding Guide.
<http://www.ala.org/advocacy/american-rescue-plan-state-guide>
The American Rescue Plan includes a large amount of funding for K-12
Education.  Decisions on how these dollars will be spent will be made at
state and local levels.
The State Funding Guide has specific information and advice for state and
local school librarians about how to advocate for some of this funding.
{Go to the link above and scroll down to "Resources for School Librarians"}

The guide includes many helpful links, information about the bill and
opportunities
for school librarians
<http://www.ala.org/advocacy/sites/ala.org.advocacy/files/content/advleg/tools/COVID-19%20Relief%20Funding%20for%20School%20Libraries%20--%20March29.pdf>
, *template letters* to customize when reaching out to officials, and more.

Also, in the list of resources in the Guide - you will  also find the
federal document with guidance on spending the federal dollars:
https://oese.ed.gov/files/2021/03/FINAL_ARP-ESSER-FACT-SHEET.pdf
-This document says  "Remaining LEA funds [80%] may be used for a wide
range of activities....  including any activity authorized by the ESEA....
and....  "
(on page 3) " - other activities that are necessary to maintain operation
of and continuity of and services, including continuing to *employ existing
or hiring new LEA and school staff."*

Also, school libraries/librarians were called out as an allowable Title I
and Title IV-A expense when ESEA was reauthorized in December 2015.  Thus,
school libraries/librarians are an "activity authorize by ESEA" and
districts can use utilize these federal funds for “developing effective
school library programs to provide students an opportunity to develop
digital literacy skills and improve academic achievement."

Here is a 1-page sheet
<https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ghpDuwcNbutBwYB8jwqOwdmKVphfmASF/view?usp=sharing>
that MAME is using with talking points about school libraries/librarians.
It is Michigan-specific -- but may help with some of your own talking
points.

Please let me know if I can support you in any way.
--Kathy Lester

Kathy Lester, MLIS, MA
*Advocacy Chair, Past-President 2014, *
Michigan Association for Media in Education (MAME)
*President-Elect, 2021-2022*
American Association of School Librarians (AASL)
*School Library Media Specialist / Technology Coach, *
East Middle School, Plymouth-Canton Schools
*SL21 Model Library, 2017-2018*
*SL21 Exemplary Ranking - Michigan School Libraries for the 21st Century
2019-2022*
*ISTE Making IT Happen Award Winner*
*2017 MAME Michigan School Library Program of the Year*
*2012 **State Librarian's Excellence Award Winner*
kathyL at mimame.org
twitter: @LibraryL <https://twitter.com/LibraryL>
810.333.5873
April is Michigan School Library Month!
Read Governor Whitmer's Proclamation
<https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/0,9309,7-387-90499_90639-556064--,00.html>

On Mon, Apr 19, 2021 at 2:00 AM Loretta Burke via AISLE <
aisle at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:

> This is something everyone has to fight against.  Is there any way you and
> your colleagues can attend the School Board meetings and advocate for
> yourselves, using your Linking for Learning strategies (and other Library
> studies) to support why you need to be there full time for your students?
> Can students go to the Board meetings and speak about the impact you have
> upon them?  How about parents?  Colleagues?  That is what the board will
> listen to when they see and hear them speaking on your behalf.  The school
> board makes the decisions, and that is who you should appeal to for help.
> Administrative duties still have to be completed by someone.  Who does the
> district think is going to do them?  Free parent volunteers or a teacher's
> "Duty Period"?  No one else can do your job but you!  I am retired now, but
> we used these strategies to try and save our jobs.  We kept our jobs but,
> unfortunately, lost our assistants at the junior high level.  Good Luck!
>
> Loretta Burke
>
>
>
> On Sunday, April 18, 2021, 05:52:45 PM CDT, Margo Newtown via AISLE <
> aisle at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:
>
>
> I’m referring to the linking for Learning. THAT is a great idea. Advocate
> as much as you can. We all know the necessity and value we provide.
>
> Margo sent from iPhone
>
> On Apr 18, 2021, at 5:50 PM, Margo Newtown <mnewtown at lfschools.net> wrote:
>
> 
>
> Great idea. I’m sorry, Katie.
>
> Margo sent from iPhone
>
> On Apr 18, 2021, at 5:48 PM, Lou Ann Jacobs via AISLE <
> aisle at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:
>
> 
> I am saddened to see this happen. This is when students need library media
> skills and opportunities to be with professional staff.
>
> Federal funds are to go to public school districts for COVID-19 and other
> expenses. School Emergency Relief funds for your district equal $866,767.
>
> Look at the job description in the latest "Linking for Learning" that
> should help you.
>
> Lou Ann Jacobs
> AISLE Legislative Advocacy
> legislation at aisled.org
>
> On Sun, Apr 18, 2021 at 5:12 PM Katie Jasper via AISLE <
> aisle at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
> My district has decided to cut the LMTC position to part time because of
> Covid expenses etc.  The position would only really have enough time in the
> week to teach library classes.  There would not be any time left during the
> day to work on library administrative duties.
>
> Does anyone have a great list or resource that describes all the tasks we
> do as LMTC directors?
>
> Thanks,
> Katie Jasper
> Medinah Intermediate School
>
> y.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended
> solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
> If you have received this email in error, please notify the system manager.
> If you are not the named recipient, you should not disseminate, distribute
> or copy this email. Please notify the sender immediately by email if you
> have received this email by mistake and delete this email from your system.
> This email is the property of Medinah School District 11 and contains
> confidential information and is intended only for the individual named.
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended
> solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
> If you have received this email in error, please notify the system manager.
> If you are not the named recipient, you should not disseminate, distribute
> or copy this email. Please notify the sender immediately by email if you
> have received this email by mistake and delete this email from your system.
> This email is the property of Medinah School District 11 and contains
> confidential information and is intended only for the individual named.
> MAILMAN_MIMEDEFANG
> _______________________________________________
> AISLE mailing list
> AISLE at list.railslibraries.info
>
> For list archives and subscription options, visit:
> http://list.railslibraries.info/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/aisle
>
> To unsubscribe, send a message to:
> aisle-leave at list.railslibraries.info
>
> https://www.aisled.org/
>
> MAILMAN_MIMEDEFANG
> _______________________________________________
> AISLE mailing list
> AISLE at list.railslibraries.info
>
> For list archives and subscription options, visit:
> http://list.railslibraries.info/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/aisle
>
> To unsubscribe, send a message to:
> aisle-leave at list.railslibraries.info
>
> https://www.aisled.org/
>
>
> ------------------------------
> 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).
> MAILMAN_MIMEDEFANG
> _______________________________________________
> AISLE mailing list
> AISLE at list.railslibraries.info
>
> For list archives and subscription options, visit:
> http://list.railslibraries.info/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/aisle
>
> To unsubscribe, send a message to:
> aisle-leave at list.railslibraries.info
>
> https://www.aisled.org/
> MAILMAN_MIMEDEFANG
> _______________________________________________
> AISLE mailing list
> AISLE at list.railslibraries.info
>
> For list archives and subscription options, visit:
> http://list.railslibraries.info/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/aisle
>
> To unsubscribe, send a message to:
> aisle-leave at list.railslibraries.info
>
> https://www.aisled.org/
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://list.railslibraries.info/pipermail/aisle/attachments/20210419/993f8e1c/attachment.html>