Report 2016-112 Recommendation 7 Responses

Report 2016-112: School Library Services: Vague State Laws and a Lack of Monitoring Allow School Districts to Provide a Minimal Level of Library Services (Release Date: November 2016)

Recommendation #7 To: San Juan Unified School District

To strengthen its library programs and help the State assess the condition of school libraries statewide, San Juan Unified should ensure that teacher librarians are involved in the selection of library materials at each school.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2020

Support for library services continues to be provided by a Program Specialist. That responsibility has been transferred from the English-language arts Program Specialist in the Professional Learning and Curriculum Innovation Department to the Instructional Technology Program Specialist in the same department. Every comprehensive high school has 1 FTE teacher librarian. Those teacher librarians have created a system to support the media clerks at their feeder schools (elementary, middle, and K-8) in their geographic regions. This support includes providing input on materials purchased for the libraries when called upon to do so.

Timeline and individuals responsible:

Fall of 2018: Prog. Specialist for Instructional Technology assumed the support role for teacher librarians

Fall 2018: Teacher Librarians shared their chart for the schools they each support with the Program Specialist.

Spring 2019-Present: Teacher Librarians reach out to site media clerks to offer support and input on library purchases

Spring 2019-Present: Monthly Teacher Librarian meetings occur, during which best practices are shared, including how they support their feeder schools. Program Specialist attends those meetings to support Teacher Librarians, receive their input, and provide updates.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented

The district provided a copy of a teacher-librarian directory and a district newsletter to support its assertions. The newsletter notifies its elementary, k-8, and middle school library/media clerks that they can use the teacher-librarian directory for support. As a result, teacher-librarians may now be involved in the selection of materials at each school.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2018

Teacher librarians are involved key in selection of library materials at the high schools where they are employed. Their involvement in library selections at elementary and middle schools is incumbent on school staff reaching out to their assigned teacher librarian. (Each elementary and middle school have a teacher librarian assigned to assist their site.) Material selection at elementary and middle schools is guided typically through conversation with site administrators, content area teachers, and library staff. District staff is exploring ways to collaborate with teacher librarians in the selection of library materials across the district.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending

San Juan Unified's response indicates that it has not fully implemented this recommendation and that its staff are exploring ways to collaborate with teacher librarians in the selection of library materials across the district.

1-Year Agency Response

In spring 2017, teacher librarians submitted a draft selection policy to support their involvement in the selection of library materials at sites. That selection policy is currently under review and it will be finalized once all stakeholders have an opportunity to provide input.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Pending

Per San Juan Unified's response, its implementation of this recommendation is currently pending.

6-Month Agency Response

Teacher librarians, in conjunction with the Program Specialist for English-language arts, are drafting guidelines and recommendations for school library material selection. This role was included in the revised Board Policy 6163.1 approved by the Board of Education. These recommendations will be rolled out electronically to all schools and through professional development sessions during 2017-18 in support of libraries across the district.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

Per San Juan Unified's response, its implementation of this recommendation is currently pending.

60-Day Agency Response

Support for library services has been added to the responsibility of the English-language arts Program Specialist in the Professional Learning and Curriculum Innovation department. A preliminary planning meeting was held on January 4, 2017 to outline the next steps and responsibilities. Revision of Board Policy and Administrative Regulation 6163.1 with a board vote on February 28, 2017. Subsequently approval of the administrative regulations by senior management is calendared for March 6, 2017. A planning meeting with key teacher librarians will occur by the end of March 2017 to outline the next steps based upon the approved board policy and administrative regulations. Beginning with this meeting, the English-language arts Program Specialist and district teacher librarians will discuss ways to ensure such involvement. Based upon the board policy and administrative regulation language, a protocol will be developed that allows teacher librarians to play a greater role in the selection of library materials at each school.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

Per San Juan Unified's response, its implementation of this recommendation is currently pending.

All Recommendations in 2016-112

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.