Calling all Parents, Students, Educators and Community Members…
Are you aware that due to budget cuts, the LRHSD has been eliminating Certified School Library Media Specialists at an alarming rate? The LRHSD has eliminated almost 70% of School Library Media Specialists in less than three years.
Overview of the Lenape Regional High School District:
In a regional high school district that consists of four high schools (Cherokee, Lenape, Shawnee and Seneca) and serves over 6,000 students and 800 staff members, highly regarded academic programs have always been one of the top reasons parents choose to live in our communities. All four LRHSD School Library Media Center Programs have been a source of excellence and pride for the district. Our School Library Media Center Programs, under the helm of full-time certified School Library Media Specialists in every high school, have a vast and vital role for all students.
While district cuts were necessary based on state school funding reductions, eliminating two out of five certified School Library Media Specialists for the 2024/25 school year is a disservice to our students and staff, especially with the new NJ Information Literacy Standards and deluge of information our students must evaluate each and every day. These reductions leave our high schools without a full-time School Library Media Specialist and accessible Library Media Center Program on any given day.
The School Library Media Center programs in the LRHSD have been a source of pride for the district, winning multiple state and national library program awards and garnering two state association Presidents. Under the direction of the LRHSD certified School Library Media Specialists, our students are prepared to engage with information critically. Academically, students develop a love of reading and become productive citizens of the world because of their exposure to the world, whether in a book or online. Equally as important, students and staff find safety, collaboration, windows to the world, and a sense of community within the library walls. With these cuts, our students and staff will immeasurably lose out.
*See list below of other key roles in green.
Overview of recent Library Media Center Program cuts:
Nine Certified School Library Media Specialists in the LRHSD until 2021.
Spring of 2021, the LRHSD eliminated one certified School Library Media Specialist.
Spring of 2022, the LRHSD eliminated three certified Library Media Specialists positions.
Spring of 2024, the LRHSD eliminated two certified Library Media Specialists.
These were the only two tenured staff members who were rifted (eliminated) in the LRHSD for the upcoming fiscal year. These tenured certified School Library Media Specialists had 16 and 17 years of service in our schools.
Upcoming 2024-25 school year, only three Certified Library Media Specialists remain to serve our four high schools of over 6,000 students and over 800 staff members.
What can you do?
If you believe in the positive impact of the LRHSD School Library Media Center Programs and that all four high schools in the LRHSD deserve the academic, social and emotional value of having a full-time certified School Library Media Specialist, contact the decision-makers below ASAP, as budget decisions are being made now.
*A sample statement you can edit/send is below or feel free to craft your own based on your experiences is below in purple.
Please send your statement to the LRHSD Administrators who have influence over budget decisions and staff by copying & pasting these email addresses:
cbirnbohm@lrhsd.org; mwebb@lrhsd.org; hxenakis@lrhsd.org; dcharlesworth@lrhsd.org; vcattani@lrhsd.org; mcampbell@lrhsd.org; bbauer@lrhsd.org; khuber@lrhsd.org; savelrhsdlibraries@gmail.com
Dr. Carol Birnbohm, Superintendent of Schools: cbirnbohm@lrhsd.org
Mr. Matthew Webb, Assistant Superintendent of Schools - mwebb@lrhsd.org
Ms. Heather Xenakis, Director of Curriculum and Instruction- hxenakis@lrhsd.org
Mrs. Donna Charlesworth, Principal of Cherokee High School - dcharlesworth@lrhsd.org
Mr. Tony Cattani, Principal of Lenape High School - vcattani@lrhsd.org
Mr. Matthew Campbell, Principal of Shawnee High School - mcampbell@lrhsd.org
Mr. Bradley Bauer, Principal of Seneca High School - bbauer@lrhsd.org
Ms. Kara Huber, LRHSD Business Administrator - khuber@lrhsd.org
School Library Media Center Advocates/Data - savelrhsdlibraries@gmail.com
3. LRHSD Board of Education Members who were elected to represent you/your children. Please send your statement to the BOE here: LINK
4. If you live in one of the LRHSD sending communities, please contact your local legislators who were supporters of S588 (New Jersey Learning Standards in Information and Media Literacy bill), which requires the Commissioner of the Department of Education to convene a committee, including certified school library media specialists and teaching staff members, to assist in developing the information literacy standards for each school district.
Submit a video describing your experience with LRHSD libraries and why it is important to restore a full-time certified School Library Media Specialist to EVERY LRHSD school
or email your video to savelrhsdlibraries@gmail.com
Reach out to NJASL (New Jersey Association of School Librarians). NJASL is looking for supporters to write a brief statement or provide some level of concern to the BOE/Administration about the cuts. NJASL is also hoping to have speakers at the board meeting in June. Please reach out to the NJASL Advocacy Team at advocacy@njasl.org
Finally, and very importantly, spread this message! There are many students, parents and community members who do not know that these cuts have taken place. Send this message to others or post it on social media, including local community Facebook pages. Let the community know what is happening in the Lenape Regional High School District.
Thank you for your time and support.
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SAMPLE STATEMENT - You can copy, edit and paste directly into your email.
I am/We are [parents, students, staff members, tax payers or community members]. I/We were happy to learn that some state funding has been reinstated to the LRHSD. In light of this news, we strongly urge you to restore certified School Library Media Specialists. Students will feel the impact of losing a full-time certified School Library Media Specialist in every school. Specifically, I/we believe that the school library program and School Library Media Specialists:
*List 1-3 personal things that make your Library Media Center and/or School Library Media Specialist impactful for students/community/staff. Key roles listed below under green heading.
I/we urge you to restore the certified School Library Media Specialist position(s) in the LRHSD so that all of our students, staff and buildings have consistent services and will continue to benefit from the unique resource that only this position offers. It is essential that every building in the LRHSD have a full-time certified School Library Media Specialist!
Sincerely,
Name(s)
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Key roles of School Library Media Specialists include:
Develop a love of reading and life-long learning in all students by managing our book collections and websites which include available databases, subscriptions and resources.
Support students becoming productive, responsible and informed citizens in our global society. Students engage with accredited information critically to develop skills to evaluate, synthesize and apply information.
Support all curriculums, academic courses and levels by assisting teachers with instructional resources and materials, co-creating lessons, co-teaching, professional development and technology.
Assist students in all subject areas and levels by supporting their individual needs.
Provide professionally reviewed research resources for students and staff in all subject areas to assist in planning lessons, projects and/or assignments as well as assist in developing programs that serve the students and staff.
Collaborate with classroom teachers via resources, lesson planning, co-teaching, technology and infusing Information Literacy Standards.
Collaborate with all staff members and departments to support school-wide programs, events and initiatives.
Provide a central location with a consistent recognizable School Library Media Specialist who helps students and staff in a wide range of issues they need assistance with (i.e. account issues, chromebook issues, printing, etc.).
Provide a positive “cultural hub” of the school which is a welcoming environment for all students and staff to use and enjoy academically as well as socially.
Support the new NJ Information Literacy Standards to combat the challenges our current students face regarding the rate and access of information and technology they’re bombarded with unlike any generation before. It is important to note that certified School Library Media Specialists are the only personnel in the building who obtained Master’s Degrees to be trained in information literacy instruction.