(You do not have to donate $$) Petition Summary: Please sign our petition to advocate for the retention of existing full time student-facing positions including Media Specialists (Librarians) and Tech Teachers and to oppose traveling Music Teachers, P.E. Teachers, Deans at CUSD.

My children wake up every day excited to go to school, despite personal anxieties or internal conflict. Their joy and vigor to attend school stems from their anticipation to participate in programs like Musical Theater, Choir, VEX Robotics, Library, and Lego activities. These programs and the familiarity of the school staff - Media Specialists (librarians), Tech Teachers, Music Teachers, P.E. Teachers, Deans - play a crucial role in their love for and safety at school.

The Chandler Unified School District has proposed to eliminate or combine Media Specialists (Librarians) and Tech Teachers at all elementary schools, replacing these positions with one Career Literacy Specialist to focus on “workplace skills”.  Career Literacy is already being taught in the classroom. Any additional material can be folded into existing curriculum taught by existing certified teacher positions. 

If the proposal gets passed, our Music + P.E. Teachers + Deans will travel between schools, which threatens to remove vital programs/resources and extracurricular activities that inspire creativity and innovation amongst students. 

Librarians and Tech Teachers provide more than just books and tech skills. They inspire a lifelong love of learning, creativity, and exploration. They establish 1:1 relationships with students that span many years. These are the spaces where children dream, innovate, and develop critical socio-emotional skills. The proposed cuts would mean a severe loss for our children's education and personal development. 

Join us in urging the Chandler School District's governing board to ask the district to reconsider where cuts can be made, provide the community with alternative creative solutions, and refocus their efforts on reducing expenses in non mission critical student-facing positions.