As of spring 2023, the TUSD School Librarian Restoration Project is at least temporarily on hold. The most important work to be done before TUSD can move forward with vibrant library programs led by state-certified school librarians is ensuring district public education friendly policies from the Arizona state legislature, advocates in the governor's and superintendent of public instruction's offices, and increased, dedicated funding for district public schools and K-12 educators.
Background - 2018
Former TUSD school librarian and advocate Judi Moreillon met with Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) Superintendent Dr. Gabriel Trujillo in July, 2018 and again in December, 2018. Dr. Trujillo is in sync with our effort in terms of the critical importance of the roles school librarians and libraries play in students' literacy development.
To begin this campaign, we aligned the advocacy effort with TUSD Middle School Improvement Plans, in the area of reading. Dr. Trujillo is encouraging members of the advocacy team to meet with Board and community members to further this effort. He shares our ultimate goal of restoring school librarian positions in all TUSD schools and wants to work with the Board to find the funds to do so. The middle school focus is a first step.
Early in 2019
A group of dedicated advocates, organized in spring, 2019, began supporting the TUSD School Librarian Restoration Project. Advocates include former TUSD school librarians, retired principals, school library aides, and parents. We have spoken at the Calls to the Audience at Governing Board meetings and met with individual board members. We have connected with the School Community Partnership Council and we usually have a representative that attends their meetings.
We created a Google Drive folder with resources for this effort. There you will find School Librarians and Libraries Fast Facts, sample email communications, Calls to the Audience, and more. We are including two of these resources here:
Fast Facts: Fast_Facts_School_Libraries_2021.pdf
Research:
Lance, Keith Curry, and Debra Kachel. 2018. “Why School Librarians Matter: What Years of Research Tell Us.” Phi Delta Kappan Online. http://www.kappanonline.org/lance-kachel-school-librarians-matter-years-research/
End of the Fall Semester, 2019
A sub-committee revised the current TUSD School Librarian and Library Aide job descriptions. We met with TUSD Human Resources (HR) in October, 2019, to share these draft documents. Judi met with HR again in November, and the position description for school librarians was finalized after winter break.
We continue to communicate or meet with Superintendent Trujillo, members of the Governing Board, and the TUSD HR Department.
Confirmed (12/6/19): Five positions will be posted in 2020. The sub-committee will continue to work with the TUSD HR Department to ensure that the Board-approved positions are posted and filled in Spring, 2020. We hope to work with HR and the superintendent to attract the most prepared professional school librarians to fill these positions.
Due to the financial strain of the pandemic, these five positions were not posted. Members of the TUSD School Librarian Restoration Project support Proposition 208.
Op-Eds
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- Arizona Daily Star Op-Ed: "What the Pandemic Has Taught Us about K-12 Schooling in Arizona" (5/15/20)
- Arizona Daily Star Op-Ed: "Our Opportunity to Repair K-12 Education" (10/9/20)
- Arizona Daily Star Op-Ed: "Banning books does not solve problems. It creates them." (2/20/22) (My title as submitted.) Article title in the print addition "All AZ students deserve a professional librarian.")
- Arizona Daily Star Op-Ed: "TUSD is a visionary district on a mission" (5/28/22)
- Arizona Daily Star Op-Ed: "Arizona public education and the "common good" (9/11/22)
- Arizona Daily Star Op-Ed: "Celebrate the right to read" (2/19/23)
- Arizona Daily Star Op-Ed: "Ignorance is not bliss" (5/2/23) (My title in the print edition: "Students will benefit from "Right to Read Act of 2023.")
- Arizona Daily Star Op-Ed: "The 'wealth transfer' the Legislature likes" (9/23/23)
School Year 2022-2023
We resumde our advocacy work in the Spring and Fall, 2022. We expect to communicate with Superintendent Trujillo and the returning and newly elected board members to talk about hiring and retaining state-certified school librarians. Professional school librarians are needed now more than ever when the Arizona Legislature has passed and will continue to consider bills that affect students' right to read and students' and educators' intellectual freedom.
IMPORTANT: Superintendent Trujillo's Draft Strategic Plan is open for public comment. Please read and comment.. Note: Digital literacy is the only literacy mentioned in the plan.
Governing Board Meetings and Contact Information
Governing Board Meeting Page
Next Meeting: May 9, 2023. At this time, meetings are held at the Duffy Community Center, 5145 E. 5th Street, Tucson.
Governing Board President's Email Address: Dr. Ravi Grivois-Shah
Members' Email Addresses: Jennifer Eckstrom, Natalie Luna Rose, Val Romero (clerk), and Sadie Shaw
New! Fall, 2021/Winter, 2022 : TUSD Budget Advisory Committee
The Committee meets monthly via Zoom.
The Call to the Audience is addressed to budgetadvisory@tusd1.org
Last official meeting: January 18, 2022 - Report to the Board on February 8, 2022. NO MENTION of school librarian positions despite assurances that the BAC had heard my Calls to the Audience, understood such recommendations were part of their charge, and that librarians would be included.
School Community Partnership Council
Meeting Information Page
The SCPC is not currently meeting. Meetings formerly held at Catalina High School, 3645 E Pima Street
For more information or answers to your questions, please contact lead advocate Judi Moreillon: info@storytrail.com
Last Updated: 19 October 2023
https://tinyurl.com/tusdrestoration
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