ESCONDIDO: Bernardo parents, students fight to keep librarian
Employee moved by budget cuts
By SHAYNA CHABNER - Staff Writer | ∞
Parents and students meet outside of Bernardo Elementary School on Wednesday ESCONDIDO ---- In the last three years, Bernardo Elementary School's library technician has helped make hundreds of kids avid readers, hosted guest authors and increased the number of books checked out per student to close to 50 books a year, parents say.
Renee Hanvey is a "two-thumbs-up librarian," as one student said last week.
And that is why hundreds of parents, students and some staff members are waging an emotional campaign, complete with student and parent petitions and a barrage of phone calls and e-mails to district officials, to keep her at Bernardo next year.
"I am sure that other librarians around the school district do wonderful things for their schools, but do they do that much?" Gina Conkle, a Bernardo parent said last week. "When you find some who want to extend themselves, that's just a gem. And you want to keep that."
The district plans to move Hanvey to Conway Elementary and Rock Springs Elementary schools next year, the district's Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Bob Leon said Wednesday.
She is one of eight elementary library technicians who will split their time between 16 of the Escondido Union School District's elementary schools beginning in the fall.
Each librarian will have two schools that they serve, instead of one school apiece like they had this year.
The school board decided to consolidate and cut in half the number of library technicians for the 2008-09 school year as a way to reduce spending in the face of about $14.4 million in budget cuts.
As a result, Leon said, four elementary librarians, including Hanvey, were moved off of their home campuses.
"I don't see any reason to move me. I wasn't laid off," Hanvey said. "Our students and our families shouldn't be disrupted because of a decision made by the district."
Leon said district officials have given much thought to their decision, and that petitions and phone calls would not change it.
In making the decision on who should go where, the district considered many factors, including the librarians' seniority, and tried to make sure that the library technicians were working on two campuses that fed into the same middle school, he said.
Rock Springs and Conway have students that go on to Rincon Middle School. Bernardo's students graduate to Bear Valley Middle School.
"The decision (to move Hanvey) was made, and we believe at this time it to be in the best interest of the district," Superintendent Jennifer Walters said. "I certainly understand that it's Bernardo kids' and Bernardo parents' preference that they not have a change."
Students' and parents' concerns, officials say, have been expressed clearly in speeches during last month's board meeting, and phone calls and letters.
Dozens of Bernardo parents and students, though, said they have no plans to cease their fight.
A petition signed by 200 parents has been turned in to district officials, and copies are being distributed for additional supporters, Bernardo parent Brenda Townsend said.
A staff petition and four different student petitions also are making their way around campus, Hanvey proponents said.
"She's really a great librarian and we don't want her to go, because this would heartbreak a lot of kids," 10-year-old Matthew McPherson, a fourth-grader who collected 32 student signatures on a petition asking that Hanvey stay at Bernardo.
"I am going to take this to them," Matthew added, holding up the petition.
Contact staff writer Shayna Chabner at (760) 740-5416 or schabner@nctimes.com.
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Why dont wrote on Jun 16, 2008 8:39 AM:the parents and staff who are complaining give the district the money to keep this person where they are. I am sure something could be worked out. As a taxpayer I don't want to pay for inefficiency. If you want to fine, send them a check to cover the salary. To have your kids protest? Typical education system, no shame.
Miriam wrote on Jun 16, 2008 9:37 AM:But see, it wouldn't cost the district a dime to keep Mrs. Hanvey at Bernardo. Or are you talking about giving them a check as a bribe? Hey...maybe that would work!
get a clue wrote on Jun 16, 2008 10:03 AM:This has nothing to do with money! She would be at 2 schools anyway! Why move her to a school she is not familiar with when she could stay at a school she knows!
Little too late. wrote on Jun 16, 2008 12:09 PM:If you keep her there, then all of the other librarians should be treated the same. If we treat them all the same, then the staffing would be as it is this year. Since the budget is not the same as last year, this cannot happen. Believe me, having a job, whether it be at 1 school or 2 schools, is a lot better than what some of our teachers/staff are experiencing right now. The DO are making their decisions the best they can on what they have to work with; these decisions are leading to many very effective and loyal teachers to be jobless in less than 2 days.
Amazing wrote on Jun 16, 2008 12:34 PM:How American people can waste time on such a petty problem-what a country of fools! Things could be worst like being in Russia when the Nazi war machine was restroying a country and killing millions! Now that is a real problem.
Be gratetful wrote on Jun 16, 2008 1:42 PM:This Librarian should be grateful she has a Job. So many others have been laid off. I agree that its such a petty problem and its something that should not even be in the news paper.
Give me enough wrote on Jun 16, 2008 2:30 PM:candy and I could bribe the kids just as well.
Ya gotta wonder wrote on Jun 16, 2008 5:21 PM:The challenge is to see the bigger picture! Librarians Work with parents and teachers to help children develop reading skills. Reading comprehension, the district leaders say, is a top priority. That comes with lots or reading! Ironically they have just closed the librarys for 3 days each week. Comprehension Experts, perhaps the leaders can't visualize this change!
Chrystal wrote on Jun 17, 2008 8:05 AM:If this librarian truly believes that she has made a difference in the lives of hundreds of children, then why would she not want to share that talent and experience with other schools in need? Seems to me that she should want to affect as many students as possible. It is implied that she cares deeply for the students' education...does she discriminate by only caring for the students at Bernardo Elementary? What about students at the other schools? Do they not deserve to have a librarian that is proactive in their education? If I were her, I would take the move as a compliment. It should be looked at as though the district believes she is great at what she does and therefore are puting her at 2 schools that are in need of her enthusiasm.
I agree with the other posters by saying that she should be grateful she still has a job! There are so many quality employees in the education system that were let go due to budget cuts. If I were one of those employees, I would be petitioning to take this librarian's spot since she obviously doesn't appreciate it!
Interested party wrote on Jun 17, 2008 9:30 AM:I am truly amazed an employee thinks they have the right to try to force the hand of the school district just because it is what she wants. All of EUSD's Library Techs are hardworking, dedicated people that go over and above for their students and staff. I admire Mrs. Hanvey's dedication to her job and allegiance to the students at Bernardo but, decisions have been made considering many factors besides her comfort level. Does she realize that even if there were no layoffs she could have been moved to another site at any given time? She works for the school district, where they choose to place her is up to them.
Dont Cave wrote on Jun 17, 2008 6:21 PM:EUSD - Don't cave in to the weathly Bernardo families. There are plenty of other schools in Escondido that are going through the same hardships. Bernardo School should not be given an exception to the rules.
I think it's pretty sick that the weathly have propped up their children with obviously mass produced signs touting the the "best choice...blah,blah,blah". Some residents of Escondido know who is behind this propoganda - the wealthy.
EUSD - don't cave in to the wealthy!!! No special priveleges for Miss Hanvey.
get a clue wrote on Jun 18, 2008 3:11 PM:This is not about wealth! Why is it wrong to fight for what is right? Ms. Hanvey was the ONLY library tech that was displaced from her site! She is more than thankful for her job, but obviously disappointed when she heard that she would have to move after all that she did for the school! Especially when another tech was more than willing to take one of her other sites so she could still stay at Bernardo! Where is the logic in that!?! This is about overpaid administration that is having a power trip and nothing more! Bernardo has a wonderful community of families and unless you have been apart of it, you will never understand!
People Just Dont Understand wrote on Jun 18, 2008 5:47 PM:AMEN get a clue!
Get your facts straight wrote on Jun 19, 2008 8:03 AM:Ms. Hanvey was NOT the only Lib Tech displaced. There were three others moved to entirely different schools. All are thankful to have a job, I am sure. However, the decision where to place each person was made without input from the techs themselves.
Miriam wrote on Jun 23, 2008 10:55 PM:Wow, is EUSD paying you all to sound off? Someone sounds a little defensive... :) If Mrs. Hanvey is so great, then why doesn't EUSD hire 20 more just like her so that every school can have one just as wonderful? Why punish Bernardo because they are "wealthy?" That shouldn't have any bearing on anything! Why not a discussion about how other schools are "poor?" Bernardo knows that they are lucky and they don't ask for much. Why are you all so bitter/jealous? And hey, "Get your facts straight".... the decision to place each person was actually made with input from the library techs. Yes of course, we all know that EUSD can do anything they want, but why behave tyrannically without cause?
Hey Miriam wrote on Jun 24, 2008 7:38 AM:What sort of input did the library techs have in the site assignment process? That wasn't what I heard.
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