One Last Call…. #SaveSchoolLibraries

Dear Supporters of School Libraries:

We wish we could tell you we’d completely closed the distance separating us and the restoration of full funding for school librarians. Sadly that is not the case. At this moment, the council chairman is recommending that $1 million be taken from the “Proving What’s Possible” grant program and be given to help fund the librarians. Unfortunately, that sum does not even restore the existing status quo vis-à-vis library staffing. And that leaves the vast majority of school libraries with little in the way of resources. So we’re several million dollars short of what’s needed to get a librarian in every school and to begin to give them the tools to succeed. We still have low literacy scores in DCPS and now we can add science as well. District eighth-graders who took the science portion of the National Assessment of Educational Progress test last year scored at the bottom nationally. In most DCPS facilities, if a student wanted to find a book on nearly any scientific topic they would be unable to do so. Yet there are more than 60 studies going back to 1965 that show school libraries have a significant impact on literacy and help bolster academic achievement in all academic areas. Last fall, Woodson High School opened in a new $110 million building. It has 200 books in its library. There are schools within DCPS that have good libraries. But they exist because the parents of many of those children have the means to help will a good library into being. The parent organization at Lafayette Elementary School contributes $10,000 a year toward the acquisition of new library materials. The School Libraries Project on Capitol Hill created eight beautiful libraries for neighborhood schools. But this is not the world of many District school children. If the chancellor’s proposal goes through, 16,600 students will not have access to a school librarian next year. Many of these children are among our city’s most disadvantaged.

We need you to do one task twice. Please call and e-mail the office of the council chairman and the chancellor. Tell them you are opposed to the cuts in school librarians and that you want adequate funding for library materials. The council votes on Tuesday. Please do this today. And ask others to do the same. Hillary Clinton had it right. It takes a village to raise a child.

DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson
(202)478-5738 (you will either leave a message or speak with someone from the DCPS Critical Response Team)
Send a message to the Chancellor at http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/About+DCPS/Contact+Us/Ask+the+Chancellor

DC Council Chairman Kwame Brown
(202)724-8032
kbrown@dccouncil.us

Important Library Appeal

Dear PTA Presidents,

I apologize I am having to reach out to you one more time to help in the effort to save school libraries. Collectively we have done a terrific job advocating for school libraries. The Council of the Whole FY13 DCPS budget recommendations noted the “decision that the Committee has heard about the most, through testimony and emails, is the reduction in school librarians.” The issue of school libraries has received press coverage on WAMU, by Washington Examiner columnist Jonetta Rose Barras, and The Washington Post (article expected on Thursday). The president of the American Association of School Libraries has written to the council (attached). But one last push is required. We are asking parents across the city make calls on Thursday to show their support for school libraries.

On Wednesday, we received from the DC city council their budget markup (attached). They recommended DCPS take $1million of the $10 million currently allocated for the “Proving What’s Possible” grant program and put it toward school libraries. There is nothing binding in the request and the sum proposed would not even preserve the existing status quo, which is grossly inadequate. Even if the Chancellor were to act on this recommendation, there would still be schools with no librarian. And no progress would be made on the considerable weaknesses that exist in the resources of most school libraries.

We are asking you to ask your parents on Thursday to call Council Chair Kwame Brown, Deputy Mayor for Education De’Shawn Wright, and your elected council member to let them know you support school libraries. These three calls should take you no more than five minutes. We have provided a sample of what to say when you call, and the phone numbers of those who should be called. We ask that you post this information on your list serves, and share with others who care about school libraries.

Statement:

“My name is ______________. I am calling to express my concerns about the support DCPS is providing to school libraries. In my opinion, the recommendations from the Committee of the Whole on the FY13 DCPS budget do not go far enough in supporting school libraries. I request the Council recommend DCPS:

1. Require all schools to have a librarian;
2. Move the librarian position out of the flexible spending account; and
3. Provide funds to update the book collections and buy new technology such as computers and eReaders.

Now is the time to make investments in our school libraries. Thank you.”

Who to call:

Kwame Brown–Chairman

(202)724-8032

Tommy Wells–Ward 6

(202)724-8072

De’Shawn Wright

(202)727-3637

Thank you.

Suzanne Wells

American Association of School Libraries.pdf
Contact List.pdf
FY2013 COW Budget Draft Report-0502.pdf

Worried about proposed cuts to school librarian positions? How to help.

To: CHPSPO, DCPS and ‘Friends of’ Community…

I’d like to ask your help in spreading the word about the proposed changes DCPS is planning to make to funding school libraries.  Schools with under 300 students will no longer have a librarian position funded from the DCPS budget, and funding for librarians in schools with an enrollment of over 300 students will be moved into the flexible spending category.  Peter MacPherson testified on behalf of CHPSPO against these changes to funding school libraries at the March DC Council budget hearing on the DCPS FY12-13 budget.

Please e-mail the letter at the end of this message to Mayor Gray, Chairman Brown, and Chancellor Kaya Henderson, along with a cc: to the City Council members and the Deputy Mayor for Education (all listed below).  It is our understanding the DC Council will mark-up the DCPS budget on Thursday, so it is important to get this message out early in the week.  While many of the schools on Capitol Hill will not be seriously impacted by the changes this year because their enrollment is over 300 students and their principal understands the importance of a librarian to a well-run and thriving school library, we must speak out now on this issue before further damage is done to schools across the city.

These will likely be the most important e-mails any of us send this week. The request is simple.  Please e-mail the letter at the end of this message to the following:

vincent.gray@dc.gov
kaya.henderson@dc.gov
kbrown@dccouncil.us
deshawn.wright@dc.gov
dcatania@dccouncil.us
pmendelson@dccouncil.us
mbrown@dccouncil.us
vorange@dccouncil.us
jgraham@dccouncil.us
jevans@dccouncil.us
mcheh@dccouncil.us
mbowser@dccouncil.us
twells@dccouncil.us
yalexander@dccouncil.us
mbarry@dccouncil.us

I have already sent this e-mail, and I hope all of you will join me.  Thank you.

Suzanne Wells

——————————-

Dear Mayor Gray, Chairman Brown, and Chancellor Kaya Henderson:

As a DCPS parent, I am writing to urge you to reconsider the cuts to school librarian positions in the proposed 2012-2013 budget.  In the next academic year, schools with under 300 students will no longer have a librarian position funded from the DCPS budget. Additionally, the funding for librarians in schools with an enrollment of over 300 will have the funding for the position moved into the flexible spending category. This means principals can elect not to have a librarian.

School librarians don’t just check books in and out.  These positions are essential to building high-performing, high-achieving schools and growing strong readers.  Librarians are trained experts who teach information literacy skills critical to helping students become well-informed, thoughtful citizens as well as career- and college-ready young adults.

There is an enormous body of research showing librarians and school libraries are an important tool in promoting literacy and improving reading scores, particularly among children in poverty.  Children learn to read by reading.  School libraries help students build their reading skills, and develop a life-long love of reading.

DCPS must rethink its approach to supporting school libraries.  As DCPS seeks to have at least 70% of its students proficient in reading by SY2016-17, now is the time to be making investments in school libraries, not disinvestments.  Now is the time to prove what’s possible with proven methods.  DCPS should:

– fund a librarian at every school, regardless of size;
– provide a per student book allocation to each school to keep the collections and magazine subscriptions current (note that Arlington County provides its schools with a $21.75 per student book allocation); and
– invest in electronic reading devices and e-books collections as a cost-effective way of quickly expanding the current collections.

Please do not handicap our students and our schools by eliminating librarians!  Now is the time to invest in our school libraries and update their collections and resources.

Sincerely,

Your Name
Your School

cc: DeShawn Wright, Deputy Mayor for Education
Councilmember Tommy Wells
Councilmember Mary M. Cheh
Councilmember David Catania
Councilmember Phil Mendelson
Councilmember Michael A. Brown
Councilmember Vincent Orange
Councilmember Jim Graham
Councilmember Jack Evans
Councilmember Muriel Bowser
Councilmember Yvette Alexander
Councilmember Marion Barry

CHPSPO Meeting Agenda: Tuesday, April 17, 6:30 pm at Maury ES

Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization
Maury Elementary School
1250 Constitution Avenue, NE
April 17, 2012
6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Mission Statement – To promote cooperation among the parent organizations of the public schools on Capitol Hill in order to improve the education received by all children attending our schools.

6:30 pm Welcome and introductions

6:35 pm DC Food Service Issues, Laura Marks

6:55 pm Middle School Thinking Groups Report Outs
– Outreach (Joe Weedon, Andrea Ryan, Barbara Riehle, Isabella Harris)
– Out-of-School Time/Partnerships (Suzanne Wells, Julie Schofield, Sandra Moscoso-Mills)

7:25 pm National Bike to School Day, May 9

7:40 pm Librarian Update
– CHPSPO Testimony at DC Budget Hearing, articles
– Next steps

7:55 pm Wrap up and Next Steps

Next CHPSPO Meeting: May 15, 2012

Upcoming Events:

April 21, Earth Day Clean up April 21, ABCs of Family Biking, Capitol Hill Montessori @ Logan, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
April 27, Montessori Night’s Dream
April 28, Laps Around Lincoln sponsored by Tyler Elementary
May 9, National Bike-to-School Day

Visit CHPSPO on the web at http://chpspo.org

Get ready for the first ever National Bike to School Day on May 9

Image

The National Center for Safe Routes to School (the folks who INVENTED National Bike to School Day) will attend our Lincoln Park Pit Stop and have invited friends from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DDOT, Safe Kids Worldwide, and more.

Shortly after students arrive at school, members of Congress and leaders of bicycle advocacy organizations will hold a press conference to announce new survey data about Americans’ attitudes towards federal funding for biking and walking. The press conference will take place at 9:30 AM at 2nd and C St NE. The Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization (CHPSPO) will be speaking, there, too! http://www.americabikes.org/national_poll_advisory 

FY13 DC Council Hearing on DCPS Budget – CHPSPO Testimony #SaveSchoolLibraries

FY13 Hearing on DCPS Budget

Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization Testimony

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Thank you for the opportunity to testify today about the FY13 DC Public Schools budget.  My name is Peter MacPherson, and I am presenting testimony on behalf of the Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization or CHPSPO.  CHPSPO is testifying today because of serious concerns we have in changes made to how the school library media specialists are funded.

In the FY13 budget, schools with an enrollment of 299 or fewer will not receive funding for the school librarian position.  There are more than 50 DC public schools of this size.  Schools with an enrollment of 300 or more will receive a budget allocation for a full-time librarian.  However, for the first time, the librarian position has been moved from required staffing to “flexible funding” which means filling the school librarian position is at the discretion of the principal.

There is a wealth of research showing that schools that rely on their libraries to support student learning have seen higher assessment scores, and ultimately higher graduation rates.  In October 2011, the New York Comprehensive Center released an information brief on the impact of school libraries on student achievement.  Relying on a series of school library impact studies, they found school libraries have a positive impact on student outcomes and can play a major role in closing the achievement gap.  Specifically, these studies have shown that schools that successfully use their school libraries to support student learning have 1) helped improve teacher effectiveness, 2) shown a greater likelihood that early learners will develop into accomplished readers, 3) seen increases in graduation rates and higher performance levels, and 4) shown higher assessment scores.  Given this research, we find the lack of priority for school librarians in the FY13 budget to be troubling and shortsighted.  In 2011, 56% of 4th graders and 54% of 8th graders scored below basic in reading on the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

If DCPS is trying to raise assessment scores, we would expect our educational leaders to be placing greater emphasis on school libraries, not less.

We all know information today is increasingly available through technology, and digital literacy is increasingly important.  When anyone can post anything on the internet, the need for our students to understand how best to use the dizzying amount of information available to them is more and more important.  Because it is most often our school librarians who teach students how best to find, use and interpret information, this is not the time to be eliminating the school librarian who is the one professional in the building trained to teach these skills in today’s, technology-infused classrooms.  This is not the time to be putting school librarians in a “flexible funding” category.

For many, many years, DCPS libraries have had a very hard time. CHPSPO recognized this back in 2005, and started an initiative called the School Libraries Project.  The School Libraries Project was a $2.4 million public private partnership between DCPS and the Capitol Hill Community Foundation, the Washington Architectural Foundation, and numerous other foundations and private individuals.  Today, through the School Libraries Project, the libraries at eight elementary and middle schools on Capitol Hill are beautiful spaces filled with books and technology.  This partnership was based on the understanding that the libraries would be staffed with trained library media specialists, and we are troubled that the FY13 budget seems to be backtracking on this understanding.

In addition to the FY13 budget decisions that negatively impact library staffing, there has been a long-standing lack of support from DCPS for purchasing books for the libraries. For years, our PTAs, the Capitol Hill Community Foundation and our ANCs have often been the only source of funding for books for our school libraries.  After the beautiful $75 million modernization at Eastern High School, the library got no new books.  Similarly, at Eliot-Hine Middle School, in 2008 there were extensive interior renovations that included the library, but no new books were provided for the library.

We understand that the difficult choices are being made in the FY13 DCPS budget.  School libraries are easy targets during budget-cutting times.  However, when DCPS cuts school libraries, it does an injustice to our city’s public school students who need to advance their literacy if they are to succeed in today’s world.  Because the research is clear that school libraries play an important role in student achievement, DCPS should identify ways to support librarian positions and school libraries.

We urge the DC Council and the DCPS leadership to reverse the actions taken in the FY13 budget that negatively affect the school libraries.  We ask that DCPS move the school librarian back into the required staffing section of the budget, and identify ways to support librarians at schools with enrollments under 299.


CHPSPO Meeting Notes – March 20, 2012

Dear Capitol Hill Public School Parent Organization members,

 

Middle Schools

At our CHPSPO meeting on Tuesday, we had very informative presentations from Principals Tynika Young, Dawn Clemens and Natalie Gordon. After our discussion, we decided to form two “thinking groups” to further explore how we can support our neighborhood middle schools. The two thinking groups are:

1. Outreach – the scope of this thinking group is to look at things like:

a. spreading the word about the good things going on at our neighborhood middle schools;

b. bringing together parents from the different elementary feeder schools, e.g., living room chats, etc.;

c. helping people understand what the IB teaching approach is and the progress Jefferson, Eliot-Hine and Eastern are making in becoming IB certified;

d. creating opportunities for families to visit the neighborhood middle schools, e.g., art festivals, Spring baseball games, etc.

Outreach thinking group members are: Joe Weedon (chair), Andrea Ryan, Isabella Harris, and Barbara Riehle

2. Out-of-school time/Partnerships – the scope of this thinking group is to look at things like:

a. what existing out-of-school time activities do the middle schools currently have such as clubs and sports;

b. what partnerships currently exist at the schools to support out-of-time activities;

c. what are the desires of the principals, teachers and students for after-school activities;

d. identify opportunities for establishing partnerships to support out-of-school activities.

Out-of-school time/Partnerships thinking group members are: Suzanne Wells (chair), Sandra Moscoso-Mills, Principal Dawn Clemens, and Julie Scofield

The thinking groups will report at the April CHPSPO meeting on their progress. If others would like to join the thinking groups, please contact the chairs of the thinking groups (Joe Weedon, joeweedon@verizon.net for the Outreach thinking group and Suzanne Wells, m.godec@att.net for the Out-of-school time/Partnerships thinking group).

 

DCPS Libraries

At our meeting, we also agreed CHPSPO would submit testimony at the March 28 DCPS budget hearing and/or write a letter to Chancellor Henderson regarding the FY13 budget changes that move librarians into a flexible funding category, and that eliminate librarians from schools with enrollments less than 299. A draft of the testimony/letter will be circulated in the next couple of days.

 

Smithsonian Education Lab

Finally, we had a very informative presentation by Jeff Meade with the Smithsonian Education Lab. There are great opportunities for free teacher training through the Smithsonian Education Lab. If your school is interested in exploring partnering opportunities with the Smithsonian Education Lab, contact Jeff at meadej@si.edu.

Suzanne Wells

March 20, 2012 CHPSPO Meeting

CHPSPO will meet on Tuesday, March 20th, at Eliot-Hine. At this meeting, we’ll be joined by:

– Jeff Mead from the Smithsonian Education Lab who will discuss their Digital Media Program;
– Principals Natalie Gordon, Tynika Young, and Dawn Clemens who will be discussing their middle schools and brainstorming with us how the community can best support the middle schools; and
– Pat Brown who is the DCPS Manager of Library Media Services and Karen Cowden and Anne Ledford who are DCPS librarians who will discuss some recent developments with staffing/budgets for the DCPS libraries.

On Monday, March 19, there will be a community meeting to discuss middle schools at Maury Elementary starting at 6 p.m. Hope to see you there.

Suzanne Wells

032012 agenda CHPSPO.doc

ABC’s of Family Biking on Saturday, April 21 @ CHM@L

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 16, 2012

Contact: Megan Odett,  KidicalMassDC@gmail.com, 443-254-2188

Kidical Mass DC, DDOT and WABA Team Up To Teach “ABC’s of Family Biking”

Kidical Mass DC, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) Safe Routes to School Program, and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) are pleased to announce the first “ABC’s of Family Biking.” This free event, the first of its kind in the Greater Washington area, will celebrate the joy of biking with children and introduce local parents to the tools, skills and equipment that can help them start biking with their kids. To be held on Saturday, April 21st from 11am – 2pm at Capitol Hill Montessori at Logan, “The ABC’s of Family Biking” will:

  • provide an opportunity to talk to area parents who bike with children of all ages, from infants and toddlers through school-age
  • feature the bicycles and equipment available at local bike shops to help parents bike safely with their children
  • teach basic riding skills to children through free classes with WABA instructors
  • present a special class to parents and their children on group riding skills for families that are interested in forming “biketrains” for children to ride to and from school in groups with adult supervision
  • demonstrate riding skills with an easy group ride to help all participants practice their new skills and meet other families that share their interest in biking.

“Biking with my son has made the daily commute more fun than I ever thought it could be,” said Megan Odett, Kidical Mass DC’s organizer. “My goal in creating this event was to provide other parents with all the information I wish I’d had when I first started researching how to bike with children.”

According to Jennifer Hefferan, DDOT’s Safe Routes to School Coordinator, “a growing number of DC families are traveling to school by bicycle. Many families are asking me for safety tips about biking with children. This event will be a great opportunity for families to learn the ABC’s of bicycling with kids and to promote bicycling as a healthy, environmentally-friendly, and fun form of transportation. The event will also provide a chance for families to practice their bicycling skills in advance of the first National Bike to School Day which will be May, 9, 2012.”

What: The ABC’s of Family Biking

Where: The parking lot behind Capitol Hill Montessori School at Logan

215 G Street NE

The location is easily accessible from the Union Station Metro and Capital Bikeshare stations.

When: Saturday, April 21st from 11 am-2 pm,

Group riding class begins at 1 pm.

Rain date is Sunday, April 22nd

For more information, visit KidicalMassDC.blogspot.com and click on “ABC’s of Family Biking,” or contact Megan Odett, Kidical Mass DC’s organizer, at KidicalMassDC@gmail.com

About Kidical Mass DC:
Kidical Mass DC was founded in 2011 as a local branch of the national “Kidical Mass” movement, which promotes safe, legal and fun family cycling on city streets. In its inaugural year, Kidical Mass DC hosted six rides from April through October, visiting locations from the White House to Historic Anacostia and helping over 100 local parents and children practice safe riding skills.

About DC Safe Routes to School: The District Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School Program works to make it safer, more convenient, and more fun to get to school on foot or by bicycle. Since 2008, nearly 30 schools have worked with the DC Safe Routes to School Program to overcome barriers to walking and bicycling to school.

About WABA:

The Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) is the national capital region’s nonprofit bicycle advocacy and education membership association. We have been serving the District of Columbia, City of Alexandria, and the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Montgomery, and Prince George’s since 1972 with the mission of creating a healthy, more livable region by promoting bicycling for fun, fitness, and affordable transportation; advocating for better bicycling conditions and transportation choices for a healthier environment; and educating children and adults about safe bicycling.

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CHPSPO Meeting Notes – February 21, 2012

Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization

J.O. Wilson Elementary School

660 K Street, NE –Library, 2nd floor

February 21, 2012  6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

1) Safe Routes to School, Jennifer Heffernan, District DOT

**Congratulations to Brent ES, as Feb 21 was the debut of the Brent Safety Patrols!

First Annual National Bike to School Day is on May 9, Wednesday.

 – Supported by DDoT (giveaways will be available to participating schools)

 – Soon, schools can register to participate via WWW.Walktoschool.org – (the site is currently being redesigned to provide more biking related material)

– Brainstormed around idea of having a pitstop at Lincoln Park, rather than a W2SD type of party. Plan to record the participants and recognize the schools who participate (maybe shout outs to the schools with most participants). Have multiple pit stops, as long as there are volunteers to ‘man’ them.

– ACTION: Sandra M. to reach out to CHPSPO schools to see who is willing to volunteer to organize pit stops and where.

ABCs of Family Bicycling on Sat, April 21st, 11AM-2PM @ Logan parking lot (215 G St., NE) (rain date is following day).

 – Kiddical Mass

 – Families w/ experience biking will give demos, showing gear

 – Bike shops will show gear

 – Bicycle skills rodeo

 – Safety

 – Bicycle train training (teach skills re: riding in group safely), followed by group ride

 – ACTION: Jennifer H. to add to program – how to secure your bikes

– ACTION: CHPSPO will get event into Hill Rag

Bike Racks and Safe Routes to Eliot Hine

 – Q: do all schools on Hill have full complement of bike racks? – ACTION: Jennifer to look into those bike racks installed in last year or so.

 – Q: Could DDOT look into Safe Routes to Eliot-Hine? ACTION: Jennifer to look into this – Suzanne to connect Jennifer w/ Eliot-Hine

 

 2)  Community Parade, Apollo:

 – Parade likely 11AM-12PM, in April or May

 – To include schools, clubs, teams, music

 – ACTION: CHPSPO to reach out to Capitol Hill Classic and Laps for Lincoln organizers; Apollo to flesh out theme/focus of parade

 3) Mindful Parenting Workshops, Steven Seiden

 – Therapist-led sharing environment w/in parents to feel like we can problem-solve issues and have support and connect

– Eventually, peer-led

– Goal is to make this a DCPS parent-engagement program

– Opening up this opportunity to all Ward 6 schools. On March 9 and March 23 9:30-11 AM (or 1:30-3:00PM); ideally, at each school

 – ACTION: Steve to write up invite to circulate to schools

4) IFF Study Discussion: http://dme.dc.gov/DC/DME/Publication%20Files/IFF_Final_Report.pdf

– ACTION: ALL -read and encourage individuals to write letters to encourage Chancellor and Deputy Mayor not to look at this study, but rather at the work that is going on in schools and communities.

– ACTION: Suzanne to circulate DeShawn Wright’s response to IFF.

5) Discussion of 2012 CHPSPO Priorities, All

Middle Schools

– Bring Principals (+ LSAT; PTAs) of middle schools together to identify where they think the community can help

– Reference to Heather’s pitch in example: need to know what volunteer needs are at the school

    • Bring PTA leadership together from MS to figure out how to get them more active; bring PTA feeders together w/ MS PTAs
    •  Have a list of ways we think we can help that principals can consider

– Living room chats w/ feeder families

    • Also set expectations

– Leading Tours for Parents

– Have schools hold PTA meetings at EH

– Request from DCPS accountability around MS plan

– Elementary school events at EH (ex: art show of feeder elementary schools at EH)

– Re-engage the collaboration teams

– ACTION: Suzanne to reach out to Principals and PTA presidents to meet w/ CHPSPO/feeders

– Elliot-Hine collaboration team meets first Wednesday of the Month at 5:30 PM @ Parent Resource Center at Eliot Hine

– Eliot Hine PTA = 3rd Thursday of the Month

——————————————-

Next CHPSPO Meeting: March 20, 2012

Upcoming Events:

March 10, Alchemy of Great Taste, Tyler Fundraiser

March 17, School Within School Jazz Gala and Auction

March 24, Maury at the Market, Maury Fundraiser

March 24, A Taste of the Hill, Brent Fundraiser

April 27, A Montessori Night’s Dream, Capitol Hill Montessori @ Logan Fundraiser

Visit CHPSPO on the web at http://chpspo.org