01-20-2014, 10:44 AM
Below you'll find latest note from folks who are concerned about the fact that students at Pahoa High & Intermediate (and Pahoa Elementary) don't have access to the Public Library during the school-day (unless accompanied by a teacher).
(This all became an issue when the principal of Pahoa High & Intermediate (and the principal of Pahoa Elementary) decided it would be a good idea to "trim the fat" and de-fund the School Librarian positions.
A little history: Prior to the principals' decisions in this regard, from the mid-1960s to the mid-1980s, there was always a full-time School Librarian in addition to the terrific overworked Public Library staff. And from the mid-1980s onward there were always two School Librarians in the building during the school-day, one whose job it was to instruct/assist Elementary Students, and one whose job it was to instruct/assist Secondary Students -- this in addition to the tremendously-helpful Public Library Staff.
To be fair, the current school principals didn't make the decision to defund. Those individuals have since moved on. However, the current principals, the people who took over since the decisions to defund were made, have yet to take the obvious necessary steps: 1) refunding the School Librarian positions, and 2) providing those Librarians with budgets that will adequately support and enrich the schools' curricula.
Here's the note and appeal for petition-signatures:
Dear Friends,
We are still circulating our petition demanding equitable treatment for the Puna Community. Senator Ruderman is being asked if he has introduced any legislation that petition signers can support.
We want to know his plan of action for the Puna Library and when this is scheduled. If you know any registered voters who would sign this, please pass it on.
Thanks so much!
http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/senator-russel-ruderman?mailing_id=18623&source=s.icn.em.cr&r_by=8300214
(This all became an issue when the principal of Pahoa High & Intermediate (and the principal of Pahoa Elementary) decided it would be a good idea to "trim the fat" and de-fund the School Librarian positions.
A little history: Prior to the principals' decisions in this regard, from the mid-1960s to the mid-1980s, there was always a full-time School Librarian in addition to the terrific overworked Public Library staff. And from the mid-1980s onward there were always two School Librarians in the building during the school-day, one whose job it was to instruct/assist Elementary Students, and one whose job it was to instruct/assist Secondary Students -- this in addition to the tremendously-helpful Public Library Staff.
To be fair, the current school principals didn't make the decision to defund. Those individuals have since moved on. However, the current principals, the people who took over since the decisions to defund were made, have yet to take the obvious necessary steps: 1) refunding the School Librarian positions, and 2) providing those Librarians with budgets that will adequately support and enrich the schools' curricula.
Here's the note and appeal for petition-signatures:
Dear Friends,
We are still circulating our petition demanding equitable treatment for the Puna Community. Senator Ruderman is being asked if he has introduced any legislation that petition signers can support.
We want to know his plan of action for the Puna Library and when this is scheduled. If you know any registered voters who would sign this, please pass it on.
Thanks so much!
http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/senator-russel-ruderman?mailing_id=18623&source=s.icn.em.cr&r_by=8300214