Lordstown schools need library media specialist

Lordstown schools need library media specialist
EDITOR:
The state oversight committee for Ohio schools and the Lordstown Board of Education are preparing to vote on proposed financial cuts for the Lordstown School District, including that of the one remaining library media specialist to serve over 600 students.
Until last year, the Lordstown Local Schools had for 30 years supported and maintained one of the most outstanding library media programs in our county, including the provision of two full-time library media specialists, one at the elementary school and one at the high school.
During this time the quality of education continued to improve in this district, with some of the highest possible achievement levels as evidenced by ever higher proficiency test scores. Now this district, with the recommendation of Superintendent Ray Getz and the state oversight committee, is set to eliminate the position of library media specialist for the district, leaving two buildings with state-of-the-art library media centers (both in terms of technology and collection) and over 600 students and their teachers completely without the services and programs of a library media center.
Respected and widely published current studies conclude unequivocally that students perform better academically where the library media specialist is a part of a planning and teaching team with the classroom, teaches information literacy and provides one-on-one tutoring for students. Certificated library media specialists (not aides and volunteers) provide quality collections of books and other materials to support the curriculum and state-of -the art technology integrated into the learning/teaching processes.
If the Lordstown Board of Education votes tonight to eliminate the position of library media specialist (and two other academic positions in the high school) without having made cuts in any of the other areas where any other school district would first cut costs (transportation, supplemental contracts for athletics and extra-curricular activities, etc.), they will be doing a great disservice to the district's students.
BECKY ROBINSON
Youngstown
X The writer is a retired library media specialist, Lordstown Locals Schools.
Lower speed limit would be bad for village business
EDITOR:
First, let me say that I am not a resident of New Middletown, but a long-time businessman who owns a business on Main Street.
The New Middletown Village Council is considering lowering the speed limit on Main Street (State Route 170) from 35 to 25 mph. Some issues need to be addressed before the action is taken. Main Street is a straight, wide road with sidewalks almost the length of the business district.
There are several communities in the area with unreasonably low speed limits that are vigorously enforced. This tends to have a negative impact on the businesses in these communities, and people tend to avoid these villages that get labeled "speed traps." With new businesses opening or considering opening, we should give them every advantage we can to survive.
Council should examine the past police records and determine how many accidents have occurred in this area and if they were caused by excessive speed.
As an alternative to changing the speed limit they should use whatever means available to enforce the present speed limit and pursue the installation of a sidewalk from Ohlin Drive to Foster Drive.
Business owners and residents alike need to contact the mayor and council members to express their opinions so that they have information on which to base their decision on this issue.
THOMAS KERR
New Middletown