Texas: K-12 Libraries: 11 Dallas Independent School District Schools are Losing their Librarians Because of Budget Cuts

From the Dallas Morning News:

Almost a dozen Dallas schools will soon no longer have a librarian.
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School officials say it’s the result of drastic budget cuts as the district scrapes around to make up for a $60 million shortfall next year. The changes will save $2 million.
No librarians will be laid off. Instead, they will be shuffled to fill vacant positions at other schools, leaving 11 campuses without librarians for the 2017-18 school year.
The decision, which rests with Superintendent Michael Hinojosa, effectively shaves 31 librarians off the books in a school district of nearly 14,000 professionals.
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Even with the changes, DISD — Texas’ second-largest district — will have the most professional librarians in the state, 199, according to figures from the Texas Education Agency. The largest district, Houston ISD, has only 66, down from 169 in 2009.
Unlike some states, Texas does not require schools to have trained librarians.

Much More in the Complete Article (approx. 1300 words)

Filed under: Libraries, News, School Libraries