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I have a situation that I could use some advice/opinions on...

I was a media specialist in a district that used the media
specialist/center as a 1/2 hour "prep" time for teachers. I was overjoyed
to find a position in a different district that is not bound by such a
fixed schedule...

Being new to the idea of "flexible scheduling" and finding out from the
teachers that there was no consistency to the students checking out books,
I decided to incorporate a weekly 1/2 hour circulation time for each
class, K-4... that way we'd know that each student is visiting the library
at least once a week...

Other than that, the schedule is completely open and I am trying to
encourage collaborative activities with the teachers...

My problem is this... now that I've created this 1/2 hour circulation
time, the teachers are starting to take advantage of it and using it as a
"prep" instead of remaining in the media center (in keeping with school
policy). This makes it difficult... because I cannot monitor what the
students are doing in the stacks if I'm buried in barcodes checking out
books. I have some parent help, but not complete coverage... yet, I think
that's "beside the point" because the bottom line is that the teachers
should be staying and it should be a NON-issue.

I seek your advice because I am new to this school and I feel that I have
been able to establish a positive relationship with the teachers so far...
I fear that any attempt to "enforce" this policy through my own efforts or
some "higher up" will create resentment, and yet the situation is not very
productive as it stands.

I am wondering if there is anyone else out there who has found themselves
in a similar situation, and whether or not you were able to come to an
acceptable solution. It's the "principal" of the matter really... how can
I be viewed as a significant member of the "curricular team" in a building
if by default it's being established that I'm merely a 1/2 hour "bandaid"
so that they can go back to their rooms and correct papers and whatnot?

Sorry this is so lengthy... hope some of you hung on 'til the end... guess
this is just a "wordy" issue that requires a bit of background info. and
venting to express.

Thanks y'all

HK Smith
Media Specialist
Avondale School District
Oakland County, MI
ac2091@wayne.edu

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