Budget Cuts at 7 weeks - HISD is a mess!!!

by Dorcas Hand
Only a few days ago, as recently as Sept. 15, we were all just rolling along thinking we kind of knew what this year would bring for libraries in HISD. And students. There weren't very many staffed libraries left, but we were ready to support those and keep working to improve the overall situation. 

But we were wrong. News of surprise budget cuts across non-NES campuses in HISD began to filter out. The threat was real, but still vague. And then we learned some numbers: $200/student is being retracted for all non-NES campuses because of budget shortfalls due to so many students not returning to HISD schools, resulting in  a huge problem for these campuses. I just saw that HISD lost nearly 10,000 students since last year.  Staff at all levels on all these campuses are being riffed (RIF = reduction in force) 7 weeks into school. And the whole event is being done as quietly as possible. Principals are under extreme pressure to make these decisions quickly, to redo class sizes and course assignments - and to keep their parent community from open rebellion by not being transparent in their decisions..

As I write on Sept 22, we know of 4 library positions gone. 2 were teachers assigned to the library; 2 were certified librarians who have served for many years in HISD schools. So much loss - for kids, families, future leadership. Of books and skills and world understanding. Librarians and library resources are essential to great education.

As best we know today - and these numbers are still changing - HISD has 17 certified librarians across 270+ schools. Another 20(ish) libraries have assigned staff of some kind.  Some of those could be certified teachers, but they could just as likely be uncertified staff. And in every case, staff assigned to the library also carry a variety of other duties from permanent substitute teacher to duties as assigned. By the time you read this, the numbers could be lower.

Last week, we were planning a Call to Action for our readers to push principals to answer questions about the library (or lack of one) on their campus because libraries can be the difference between literacy success and failure. When certified librarians, or at least certified teachers, are the library staff helping students find the books they request, students have a big assist on the ladder of learning. Libraries offer students access to a variety of books, to personal agency in selecting books they WANT to read and/or subjects they are curious about beyond the classroom. Librarians support students to find the books or other resources that fill their needs today, and their different needs next week - resources that reflect their growth as readers and learners. Certified Librarians must be certified teachers also, with 2 years full-time classroom experience. These certified librarians work easily with classroom teachers to bring the core curricula to life, and to support students’ research skills.

But wait - we forgot that HISD doesn’t think libraries do any of that. Mike Miles thinks libraries are a distraction to learning. His only measure of success is improved test scores. Consider how many multiple choice tests you take as an adult. HISD students under the state Takeover are ONLY learning how to take tests, rather than how to think creatively about problems. No wonder HISD leaders don’t like libraries and certified librarians who cultivate curiosity and wonder leading the way to a love of learning.

SNL focuses on libraries, seeing a school library as an essential element of a school. Our hearts break for the many other staff of every kind who are suddenly losing their jobs at the same time the economy around us presents every household huge challenges. This loss of librarians and so many others is a crisis that requires every voice. HISD leadership has caused this problem by dragging the district's reputation down to the point where PK-12 families are finding ways to move out of the district, home school, or otherwise make changes to their child’s educational path. Only we the voters can change this situation.

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VOTE BLUE! Vote all the way down the ballot. VOTE BLUE!
​We must change

• state leadership,
  
• State Board of Ed membership, and
  
• state legislative membership
  

in order to begin to rebuild HISD and other education institutions in Texas.

IMAGE SOURCE: https://www.publicschoolreview.com/blog/what-a-district-budget-cut-means-for-your-childs-school-experience