"Administrators have been advocating for flexibility in making many decisions for their buildings, including staffing decisions. In this case, the decision to give elementary principals the flexibility to make cuts that included media specialist positions came approximately two weeks before that decision became publicThus, Media Specialists had no opportunity to advocate for their positions before a final decision was made. That's how the MCPS Secret Budget Table works. Those select few at the table keep all budget discussions confidential to prevent any public discussions of decisions being made.
knowledge. Nothing was finalized at that time. Until decisions are final, they must remain confidential to minimize rumors and misinformation that can arise.
Therefore, MCEA representatives could not inform media specialists in advance."
Montgomery County Public School students deserve fully staffed media centers
In an era of drastic budget cuts, schools are often prompted to "go back to basics." In the 21st century, media literacy, multimedia instruction, appreciation for reading, and computer instruction are all fundamental to student success. In Montgomery County Public Schools, these skills are taught by certified Media Specialists. Montgomery County Public Schools is breaking the trust with students, parents, and the community who entrusts children to its care each day. These 21st century skills are the foundation for an educated, skilled, and informed community. Principals in the following elementary schools have elected to reduce the Media Specialists who teach their students to part time. Students in Montgomery County face the very real likelihood that their access to quality materials and instruction may be severely curtailed as both public and school libraries cut hours and staff. In additional to cutting the positions of media specialists to part time, Media Assistants, who provide invaluable support to media programs, have also been reduced to part time in many schools, leaving the very real possibility that students may be unable to use only library available to them. We have provided the names of schools and the contact information for principals of the schools whose Media Specialist positions have been reduced to part time and will update it as we receive new information. Unfortunately, the reductions in hours of Media Assistants are so widespread that we have been unable to create a list as we have below for schools affected by cuts in Media Specialist hours. The list provides the names and supervisory assignments of the Community Superintendents. AN IRONIC INVITATION Baldridge thrown under a bus! After an 11th budget recommendation to principals that resulted in a educational Sophie's Choice, principals were asked to choose to among the following staff to reduce to part time: Guidance Counselors, Media Specialists, Reading Specialists and Staff Development Teachers. We have been unable to find a copy of that document, but hope to have it from either the Board of Education or Union representatives. These recommendations had not been included in published recommendations sent out a week earlier, which is why so many stakeholders (students, parents, staff, and Media Specialists themselves) were caught flat-footed by the cuts. Immediately following a week in which many staff were informed that their positions would be cut to part-time, Board of Education Member Patricia O'Neill sent a "Dear Colleagues" letter, in which she solicited donations to honor the work of Dr. Jerry Weast. In this invitation, the donations are earmarked toward purchasing books for elementary school libraries so "we can provide our students with well-stocked libraries." Click here for a link to the invitation. Additional Pages |
