[Libs-Or] School Library Staffing: One thing OLA should do.

[Dawn Prochovnic]

I have been encouraged and energized by the discussion about the need to advocate for the return of school librarians to schools. In the spirit of collaboration, I wanted to mention that individual school PTOs/PTAs (Parent Teacher Organizations/Associations) be considered as another resource in this regard. Although PTOs/PTAs do not hold the purse strings or decide the issues, they are comprised of passionate, active parent/community volunteers that care deeply about the education of their children. 

I have participated in several advocacy campaigns via the PTOs at my children's schools alongside other active volunteers. Some of these advocacy campaigns were ultimately successful and some not, but they were all envisioned and executed by engaged parents and community volunteers. I suspect many PTOs would welcome the addition of local librarians participating in their meetings and community activism (and likewise, these organizations provide a ready group of engaged community citizens that can show up and speak up). 

Another organization that might be worthwhile to engage/collaborate with is Stand for Children (Stand.org). Stand for Children is an education advocacy organization devoted to improving public schools and closing the achievement gap. Their byline is: We show up. We speak up. We reach out. We vote.

The Beaverton and Portland chapters of Stand are very active (I cannot speak for other areas throughout the state). I had the experience of working with Emily Nazarov, the Portland/Beaverton Organizer for Stand, during the last election (re: Beaverton School District had a tax levy on the ballot). She was an amazing activist and advocate and now works for the Department of Education.  

It's my understanding that Liz Kaufman, (lizkaufman at cascadeaccess.com) was the chief political consultant/organizer for last year's (successful) BSD levy campaign (I think she also worked on Charlie Hales mayoral campaign).
 
There are also groups of engaged community members that can be "found" via facebook groups such as:

Stand for Children Beaverton Chapter:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/511677812188080/

Beaverton Community for Education: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BeavertonCommunityforEducation/

Save Beaverton Schools: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-Beaverton-Schools/288207424613464

Yes for Beaverton Schools: https://www.facebook.com/YesforBeavertonSchools

(These particular FB groups are focused on Beaverton Schools, but I *suspect* PTO/PTA members around the state know of similar groups more focused on their local school issues).

Lastly, I wanted to mention that Wendy Owen, from The Oregonian, (wowen at oregonian.com) covers many issues related to education, and she would be a good person to reach out to/educate about this issue (on an ongoing basis). 

Warm regards,

Dawn Prochovnic, MA
SCBWI-Oregon Library Liaison
Author, Story Time with Signs & Rhymes Series
Magic Wagon/ABDO Publishing Group

dawnp at smalltalklearning.com
www.smalltalklearning.com
dawnprochovnic.blogspot.com
Facebook: Dawn Babb Prochovnic
503.223.5622

On Wed, Nov 20, 2013 at 9:41 PM, Tony Greiner <tony_greiner at hotmail.com<mailto:tony_greiner at hotmail.com>> wrote:
The disgraceful state of Oregon Public Education, and specifically school libraries in Oregon should be of interest to all people in our profession.

And I think OLA can make a change in its policies that can help bring back school librarians.

Currently, the potentially useful Public Action Committee "People for Oregon Libraries" devotes most of its funds to people running for the state legislature.

But that isn't where funding decisions are made. They are made, as Garrett Trott pointed out, at local school boards.

We should change the focus of the giving of "People for Oregon Libraries" from the legislature to local school board elections. The dollar impact will be greater, and we will be putting our political money into the campaigns of those that say "staff school libraries."

Oregon has a structure for the 'little people' to have influence in elections. Contributions to candidates and Political Action Committees, up to $50 a person, can be applied as a tax credit on Oregon taxes. Which means, essentially, that $50 of your tax bill can be devote to a political cause or candidate. You have to pay the tax anyway...but this allows you to participate in a 'taxpayer-funded election' with no real out-of-pocket expense.

OLA has over 1,000 members. If even half of us contributed the $50 annual amount, we would have a $25,000 war chest a year.  According to a recent report, 75% of winning candidates spend less than $1000, and even in large districts, $10,000 is on the high end. ("School Boards at the Dawn of the 21st Century, page 34 and 35).

With $25,000 a year, we could make 50 contributions of $500 to candidates that support school libraries, and for many that contribution would pay for half of their election costs!  That could get us some real influence at the level where it counts. With 197 school districts in Oregon, we could be getting good numbers of pro-library people on school boards across the state in just a few years.

We did not lose our school librarians overnight, and we will not get them back overnight. But we will not get them back at all unless we act. If we won't do something, who will?

Tony Greiner

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