Cy-Fair ISD, a school district in Cypress, Texas, is facing a significant budget deficit of $138 million for the upcoming school year. As a result, administrators have made the difficult decision to cut over 50% of all librarian positions. This news has left many parents and librarians shocked and devastated.
Parents quickly organized over the weekend upon hearing the news of the librarian cuts. They created a Facebook group, started an online petition, and planned an informational session for the community to voice their concerns. They believe that librarians play a crucial role in their children’s academic success and are concerned about the impact this decision will have on their education.
One librarian, who wished to remain anonymous due to fear of retaliation, expressed her shock and disappointment. She emphasized the importance of having dedicated, full-time certified professionals in the library to support students’ literacy development and critical thinking skills. By reducing the number of librarians, students will lose out on the love of literacy and the joy of engaging with stories during book talks and author visits.
Cy-Fair ISD plans to cut down its 92 campus librarian positions to only 42, forcing the remaining staff members to oversee multiple schools and thousands of students. The district has stated that staff members will be chosen based on seniority, and others may be offered teaching positions within the district. However, parents and librarians argue that this will put an immense burden on the remaining librarians, leading to a decline in the quality of education provided.
This is not an isolated issue in Cy-Fair ISD but rather a statewide problem. Just a few months ago, Spring Branch ISD and Houston ISD also made similar decisions to reduce librarian positions. Parents are placing the blame on Governor Abbott and state lawmakers for failing to increase public school funding over the past five years.
Aly Fitzpatrick, one of the concerned parents, expressed her frustration and called for action from the superintendent and the governor. She believes that the district should have engaged the community through town halls and sought input on what is important to them. Fitzpatrick is urging Dr. Douglas Killian, Cy-Fair ISD’s superintendent, to put pressure on Governor Abbott to fund schools and address the statewide budget crisis.
In response to the outcry, Cy-Fair ISD released a statement acknowledging that staff reduction is inevitable when a significant portion of the budget is allocated to personnel. They explained that the reduction in librarian positions is part of a larger plan that also includes cuts to teacher positions, paraprofessionals, support staff, administrators, and maintenance positions.
Despite efforts from parents and librarians to advocate for their children’s education, requests for comment from Governor Abbott’s office were not returned at the time of writing.
The situation in Cy-Fair ISD highlights the challenges faced by many school districts across Texas in balancing their budgets. As state funding fails to meet the needs of public schools, difficult decisions regarding staff reductions become necessary. However, it is crucial for both the district and state officials to consider the long-term impact these decisions have on students’ education and well-being. The voices of parents and educators must be heard, and efforts to secure adequate funding for schools should remain a top priority.
