Posted by Reader on June 30, 2008 at 1:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This is only marginally on point, but just when did libraries and librarians become "media centers" and "media specialists"? By definition, libraries are those buildings or facilities which house various media, mainly books. I have a kitchen in my house, but I don't call it an "ingredient center."

Posted by karmann on June 30, 2008 at 7:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I remember reading about this situation several years ago. This just goes to show the level of commitment that CCSD has for the children they are elected to educate. The politics of CCSD continues to over shadow their mandate to provide quality education for all students. I have a feeling that this article will fall of deaf ears just as will the article on the disparity of technology in CCSD schools.

Posted by mlm on June 30, 2008 at 7:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The fact that the libraries in our public schools are so poorly stocked isn't news. Out of date science and social studies books are just part of the story. Too few books for the number of students present and inappropriate reading levels for the age groups at the schools they are designed to serve have been problems for years.

Just look at the report in 1999 or 2000 that revealed that the Burke Ninth Grade Academy showed up at Courtenay School with only a telephone directory in its library. Don't forget the new books still in their wrapping that were found in dumpsters at West Ashley High. Or the thousand or more books that downtown volunteers gathered for Charleston Progressive Academy because CCSD continued to neglect its library. As recently as a year ago CPA had no science section to speak of at all and almost no books appropriate for the middle school grades that had been added over the previous 4 years with no library to match the needs of these older students.

The story here is really about how the Post and Courier does such a poor job of investigating and reporting the truth about the gross neglect and waste by those who manage our public schools in Charleston County. I sense even the stories that are in today's paper and others published recently are watered down. They all have the feel of a news release from CCSD's public relations department. This kind of softball reporting looks like a high school newspaper, and not a very good one at that.

Posted by shoelaces on June 30, 2008 at 9:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Wait a minute MLM....

I don't know how accurate all of your post is. Maybe that's how it works at some schools but not at mine.

First of all textbooks are adopted every 6-7 years. Not every subject comes up for renewal it is a staggered process. For example, we got new SS texts 2 years ago and new science texts a year ago. This year we will select new Math texts for the 2010 school year. It is up to the school's principal to see that the school is adequately stocked with proper teaching materials. If I want something all I have to do is ask. My principal may be a rare breed since I can't think of a single time when I didin't get what I wanted or needed. Personally bringing it to me at times. Each year we are allocated a certain amount of money each and we can spend it on classroom materials approved by the administration. I don'tusually need much so what's left of mine goes to someone else.

Our Media Specialist has done a fabulous job of acquiring new books for our Media Center. She is SUPER!!! Yes, there are probably some older volumes in there but so what. The kids like to see stories about "back in the day."

This is a school based issue not necessarily a CCSD board issue. If a school does not have adequate materials you probably don't need to look too far past the principal's office to find out why.

And I work in a very poor school so don't think we have any extra money to spare.

Posted by flamingo on June 30, 2008 at 10:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Media Specialist is the "new" name given to the librarian who does much more than order, alphabetize and shelve books. All Media Specialist are suppose to enhance/enrich the Coherent Curriculum adopted by the county system. The media center offers technology training for both students and staff. Additionally Professional materials are often purchased for the school, using the library budget. A budget of $2000 dollars purchased approximately 140 new books for the year. The state has South Carolina Book Award books that all media centers should purchase, yearly. Just ordering those titles would take the full allocated monies. Principals have to spread the pool of money allocated for their school. Yes some may give more to the media center, but often that cuts into other areas that are just as needy.
Maybe children enjoy reading about the "old days" but we do our children a great disservice if we are not keeping current with our informational materials.

Posted by drp7773 on June 30, 2008 at 10:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Maybe if they didn't buy computers with the web that any kid can go to any porn site and just put a library system where they can only get to the knowledge of reading and school subjects this may save some money on web service, also instead of buying any books that come out no matter what the content is saying the kids should learn and buy educational books that teach one to learn instead of porn, hate, gay, cuss filled books so the kids can learn all the wrong agenda and say it's ok because the library stores this material. Maybe the libraies would not be so far behind on books. And just because some person from New York says its a best selling book does not make it so and the content may not be suitable for all ages.

Posted by jeff61 on June 30, 2008 at 12:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Depnding on who you talk to, the books about when we go to the moon may still be accurate

Posted by belovedbliff on June 30, 2008 at 12:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Speaking of libraries, does anyone know when Burke Middle School will even get one?

Posted by Newt on June 30, 2008 at 12:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

jeff - they were educated in SC if they think the world is flat and we didn't make it to the moon.

I speak to teachers - everyday who can not speak proper english and we wonder why our schools are so bad.

dpr 777 We should invest in resources for our schools, and school libraries have filters, it's the public libraries that do not any filters for porn.

Posted by mlm on June 30, 2008 at 3:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Shoelaces: I would like to agree with you and perhaps what you describe is true for some ideal school, but that's not the case with downtown schools, most of which are under direct CCSD management. Burke lacks textbooks to the point where students must share or aren't allowed to take the ones they have home. I'm not suggesting that the Autobiography of Malcom X or Tom Sawyer with a publication date of before 1970 should be removed. There are of course some dimwits within CCSD management who have done exactly that.

There is no consistancy and even less equity when it comes to stocking these schools with the resources they need. If it's all up to the prinicpal, then why do we have the bureaucracy at 75 Calhoun? Isn't this army of highly paid specialists supposed to make sure that every school has the basics? Maybe we could redirect these administrative costs directly to schools that don't have the materials they need.

That's the issue. Chas. Progressive was given a typical annual library budget, no more except for some extra Title One funds in order to put something on their shelves. CCSD administrators expected this school to create an established collection where virtually none had previously existed. The story is that CCSD doesn't make accommodations for situations like this.

It would be nice if all schools had principals whose loyalty was to the school community instead of to the county administration. Because of CCSD's policies they often don't have that kind of leadership downtown. I'm glad for you and anyone else that doesn't have to suffer through this kind of hit or miss leadership that lives in the revolving door.

The superintendent is constantly moving prinicpals in and out. This superintendent is exactly like the ones who went before her. There is no plan for the schools that need it most. This report is just spin as it applies to schools that need something more enduring than what we're giving them. It's hard enough to know if your faculty is fully stocked when the leadership is so new. How can they know what the status of the equipment is when they are on their way out almost as soon as they get settled in their office?

It's a bigger story and the P&C isn't covering it.

Posted by shoelaces on June 30, 2008 at 4:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

mlm...that's why I don't work downtown and never would consider working downtown. I don't know why the district office would have any more control over downtown schools than any other school. Not unless the school was in danger of "takeover" by the state department. I don't know all the politics.

I do know that I am very fortunate to be where I am. I have coworkers who did work downtown and they said it was a miserable and racist experience. They put in quite a few years each enduring it.

As for McGinley I am not schooled on just how many principals SHE has moved. I do know Dr. J. moved quite a few.

Schools won't be equitable as long as people don't get involved and let the public know what is going on.

Posted by Late27 on June 30, 2008 at 4:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

'...just when did libraries and librarians become "media centers" and "media specialists"?'

Reader: When more and more information came in more than just print form.

Posted by LadyTarHeel on June 30, 2008 at 6:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The library has been the media center since I was in kindergarten (1989-1990). Still referred to it as the library though. Good to see that something is being done about the out of date books. This is a problem everywhere. I didn't even use the library for my senior project in high school because they didn't have very many up-to-date books. Even though this may not completely solve the problem, it is a step in the right direction.

Posted by belovedbliff on June 30, 2008 at 6:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

mlm, you are very knowledgeable--the downtown principals are awful because of their misplaced loyalities and incompetence. They are pathetic pawns.

Posted by mlm on June 30, 2008 at 7:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Shoelaces: You said, "As for McGinley I am not schooled on just how many principals SHE has moved. I do know Dr. J. moved quite a few."

McGinley has been in her position for a little over a year and she's moved just as many as MG-J, with more announcements coming.

Shoelaces said, "Schools won't be equitable as long as people don't get involved and let the public know what is going on."

That's what some of the people on this blog and other blogs like it have been doing. I'm pretty sure CCSD doesn't particularly appreciate the public sharing information not shaped the way it wants. That's why there's been a big push by CCSD lately to put out a lot of feel good news through the P&C.

I believe in balance too, but the spin and manipulation involving CCSD is too obvious. People are suspicious of the timing of front page stories on school choice and motherly principals while federal investigators are in town. Then the serious issues get covered on the inside pages AFTER the investigators leave.

Yes, get involved and share what you know. How do you think so many people have begun to have more facts about different schools than the P&C reporter? From James Island Charter to Burke HS, from Buist to Charleston Progressive, from CE Williams to Brentwood, that's a lot of ground for a few people to know something about. CCSD is counting on that separation. When people come together they'll find they have a lot more knowledge as a group. Many different people do know what goes on at these schools because they regularly share what they know with others that know, too. It always helps when parents compare notes. CCSD isn't going to do it for us, and even if it did, it wouldn't tell us the whole truth. It hasn't yet.

Posted by shoelaces on June 30, 2008 at 7:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Maybe the district is getting some good press because it finally has some good news to share....could be true. I have plenty of issues with the district. Maybe I just feel good since it's summer break :) and have a hard time finding fault right now....could be.

I don't look for a conspiracy around every turn of the page or click of the mouse. If things are so bad in the downtown schools then the parents, teachers, and administrators downtown need to band together and do something about it. Won't happen over night but with time and effort things could get better.

What baffles me is why we get so many kids from downtown, West Ashley, and North Charleston at my school and we are a low achieving school.....? Explain that one to me.

Posted by southeastsm on June 30, 2008 at 8:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

MLM - so federal investigators are in town? You seem to know quite a bit of information. What exactly is being investigated?

As for Mr. Bynum resigning - that is official effective today. The reason given was because his wife is in the National Reserves and is getting ready to be called up for active duty. He asked to be released from his contract to move closer to his family in Georgia.

Posted by mlm on June 30, 2008 at 9:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thanks for the explanation on Randy Bynum, southeastsm. The feds were in town almost two months ago to investigate several formal complaints filed against the administration relating to Buist Academy. They looked into the staffing inequities compared to Charleston Progressive and the improper handling of student transfers out of Buist. The partial magnet announcement was made on the front pages of the P&C while the investigators were here. The announcement that the school was being investigated wasn't made until the feds had left. If anyone believes that Buist admissions are handled as Shoelaces described it, then pigs can fly. Just like telling downtown parents to "get their own Buist", posing the question "are you sure you really want the rigors of Buist" has become just another way of CCSD and the Buist PTA crowd saying..."It's just for us and you can't have it." Come on, if so many qualified people are on a Buist waiting list, why isn't CCSD actively trying to create more schools like Buist? The partial magnet proposal from the superintendent is just a diversion. As for no NCLB transfers for Buist, that's just CCSD's interpretation of it. As far as anyone knows the rule is that academically qualified students also covered as NCLB eligable transfers should be given priority on each of the 4 lists. But you'll never get CCSD to admit that. The truth is that the bloom is off the Buist rose. Most of the names on the Buist waiting lists don't really want in. Most parents now just want an alternative that isn't a political arm of CCSD.

Posted by zoomru on July 1, 2008 at 1:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Pretty good dialogue here people keep it up. With funding being the way it is, the power of the real library (the Internet), and the fact that mutiple resevoirs of books requires serious dollars in infrastructure. It seems to me that a little planning would go a long way. Think for a second about all the locations of "Libraries". Not only does each school have one; but the county has multiple spread out in various locations. Then we have the commercial type called Barnes and Noble and Books-A-Million. What if our county libraries were built in the middle of the high school, middle school, and elementary school locations? Think of the infrastructure savings ALONE? Lets assume that we don't cut back in librarian positions at all? Talk about customer service? That begs the MILLION DOLLAR question? How do we get everyone to school within a small radius location geographically? Think of the traffic in the morning (Skytran)?? Our city , county, and state officials are seriously missing a VISION in educational organization. What is the foot traffic in a school library...from 9 to 2:30? What about a county library? What is their foot traffic from 3 to 7? We should be looking at how to best use our infrastructure dollars to maximize time and investment return? Think of the infrastructure cost alone when compared to the actual time it is used per day or week? How are funds being used to maximize investment return?? Think of the different parking lots at the different locations alone? You mean after little Johnny gets through with school we drive to the county location to look up county records and then......Oops ...wait a minute; the county records are kept a separate location. Well, we can still go to the county library to get on a computer to look them up? Then on the way home; we stop off to buy a magazine and self help book to read in bed....from?? ..you guessed it .. Barnes and Noble or Million thoughts..!

We can do better than this? I think......

Posted by shoelaces on July 1, 2008 at 8:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)

OK. It sounds like we all need to go to Charleston Progressive and see what is going on there. MLM, you must have a child there or teach there or some other reason to bring that school up so often. That is great!!! Keep up the good fight for your school.

My school is NOT Buist. It is very small and everyone knows everyone. We do have many highly qualified teachers, with Masters degrees and even a few who are National Board Certified. Many of our teachers are on their second generation of students from the same family...if not third. And we have an AWESOME media center!!

As for Buist (again, my kid didn't get in)leave it alone. Having met many teachers there and actually working with one or two of them in the past I don't see what the problem is. I personally would not want to work there. They have the International Baccalaureate program in the upper grades and THAT is a very difficult program to teach in. I believe they are looking at making the elementary school an IB also.

For those who don't know how the Buist lottery works...there are 4 lists....all CCSD students, students from "failing" schools, students who live downtown(all failing, right? Except maybe Sanders Clyde since they bus their kids to Memminger), and the sibling list. Your child's name goes on all lists that apply. Yes, some folks try cheating the system. They actually BUY property downtown. Yikes!!!! If they have that kind of money then just go private. But, hey, to each their own. Some of my neighbors kids have gotten in and some of us haven't. It is the luck of the draw. Go to the computerized drawing in December/January and watch this process happen. If someone is cheating I would like to know how.

Buist has a good thing. Certain teachers want to teach there and not at the Memmingers, Chas. Progressives, and the Burkes. That is my choice as a teacher!! I don't want to teach at the very bottom and I don't want to teach at the very top.

There were 240-ish kindergarteners signed up for the drawing for the upcoming school year. There are only 40 slots. That should say something about the need for offering more schools like Buist. Could they ALL become Buists? I don't know. Buist won't keep you if your grades drop below a B after you have been on probation for a year (I think that is accurate).

And not all kids on the Buist waiting list are "qualified" by the results of the entrance requirements. For Kindergarten entrance you have to take a test. After that they look at your grades, MAP scores, and PACT scores. And many parents keep their kids on the list in the hopes of just getting them in for middle school because our middle schools are such a mess.

My school is a great place to work. I am sorry other places aren't. I suggest people get involved and go check it out.

I am done with this conversation.