Lansing parents concerned by school library staffing

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — Concerns over library access sparked a packed Lansing School Board meeting Thursday night , with parents sharing their worries about staffing priorities in the Lansing School District.

Almost 100 people filled the Eastern High School gym, with over a dozen parents and community members showing their support for the school’s librarians with book-themed shirts.

Many of them worry about the district possibly cutting librarians off its staff and whether or not libraries would be included in new school construction plans—specifically the Lewton School campus.

Several district directors shared a plan during the meeting that would cut the number of certified librarians from seven to five in exchange for adding 34 assistants to their staff. Officials say that the assistants would support literacy, instruction, and library usage.

“Students would access the library before and after school, during lunch, our collections would remain protected under our certified positions,” said a district official . “It also allows for opportunity for our parents and our community to help us with check-in and check out when they have been obviously trained.”

While parents like the idea of more library access, many of them are not on board with the plan. Some think there are skills that only a librarian can teach, and that the aides might not have as much training or expertise—which they think is unfair for the staff.

“You set that person up for failure, but it’s also unfair for my kids who will now have to learn with someone who’s not up to the task,” says Gaelle Cassin-Ross, whose two children attend Post Oak Academy. “I’m not saying someone can’t learn. I’m saying we already have people who know the job, why not go with them?”

Superintendent Ben Shuldiner says there’s a long road ahead before any plan is set in stone, and that this discussion must balance experts in the district and the desires of the parents.

“You also have to be respectful to the community and to listen to what is right for their children,” said Shuldiner. “Because it’s ultimately up to them if their kids go here or somewhere else.”

As for concerns over library closures, a spokesperson for the district says LSD has not and will not close libraries currently used. When it comes to if new building constructions will have libraries, like Lewton, they say administrators are still in talks with parents about final designs.

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