Spring 2008 Chapter Meeting Ballot

(The links will open a new window; review and return here to vote for one.)

I vote to support"Empower the Children".

I vote to support the"H2O for Life".

Chapter members, please read about these school libraries, and select one of them as your choice to be the recipient of our 2008 Literacy Project book donations and cash award. The information about each school is presented just as it was received, and schools are listed in the order in which the nominations were submitted.

Name of school: Winegard Elementary Orange County (FL) Public Schools Nominated by: Doris E. Sweeney Vote for this library: Click:	Number of students served:	700
	Brief description of the socio-economic character of the school community:	Winegard Elementary is an urban Title I school of 700 students all of whom qualify for free/reduced lunch. Florida is facing a funding crisis and to that end, the school as lost an anticipated $350,000 from the operating budget for the 08-09 school year. Currently seven positions have been cut. It's doubtful if there will be funds to purchase books next year.
	Brief description of the general type(s) of books most needed:	The average age of the collection is 1996 with most needs being in Fiction (chapter books), Biographies, and Non-Fiction.
	Other pertinent information about this library's need for our support:

Name of school: Mesa Arts Academy, K-8 charter school Nominated by: LisaRose Blanchette Vote for this library: Click:	Number of students:	210
	Brief description of the socio-economic character of the school community:	Approximately 70% ELL or FELP, 85% free or reduced lunch, Title I school, located in a mixed-use urban neighborhood with high gang and drug activity.
	Brief description of the general type(s) of books most needed:	A good variety of higher level, high interest chapter books for the 7th/8th grade students, books to support their AR program for all grades, non-fiction books, picture books for the little guys, predictable text for emergent readers, and reference materials - multiple copies of dictionaries and thesauri for 3rd - 8th grades.
	Other pertinent information about this library's need for our support:	The school was the target of an arsonist in mid-March and lost an entire building and the many items it contained, including books, DVD's, computer programs, musical instruments, and art supplies. They are rebuilding their library collection and are accepting all sorts of donations.

Name of school: Fort Sam Houston Elementary School Fort Sam Houston Independent School District Nominated by: Melanie Morgan Vote for this library: Click:	Number of students:	770
	Brief description of the socio-economic character of the school community:	This elementary school is a public school positioned on a military base. Since it is a public school, there is not governmental support like other DODDS or DODEA schools. The population is highly mobile since the wounded soldiers come to Brooke Army Medical Center for care, recovery, and rehabilitation. This means children often move multiple times throughout the year, sometimes at the last minute, often taking their library books with them. Additionally, they are a melting pot with a high ESL and Special Education population where books are often their recreation or key tool to new knowledge acquisition. With these students' mobile lifestyles, they have greater gaps in knowledge. Couple that with the highly stressing lifestyle they live as their parents deploy or recover from injuries, and they miss key components in their education. Books can assist in filling that void.
	Brief description of the general type(s) of books most needed:	Updated academic books on general and relevant topics (science like matter, space, animals, etc.; math with counting, math adventures, etc.) as well as quality chapter books that students now read like Bailey School Kids, Avatar, Naruto, Magic Tree House, Judy Moody, Junie B. Jones, Pony Pals, and other Scholastic type supported books. The students always complain they must go off-post in order to get books for book reports because the ones in the library are so old, missing pages, or scribbled in. For a biographical book report, my students struggled to get books in the library and I had to get them from the public library just to complete a class assignment.
	Other pertinent information about this library's need for our support:	The school has a great librarian who will offer support in any capacity, but her resources are limited. The children rotate through the library and enjoy older VHS presentations of books without the relevant relation to them. Updated videos, even on the older VHS format, would be beneficial as students watch the same year after year, only progressing at times by level. Updated works that support their adventure into books and how the stressors of life can be forgotten with a good book.

Name of school: Hutchins-McMichael School Detroit Public Schools Nominated by: Dorthena Cope Vote for this library: Click:	Number of students:	525
	Brief description of the socio-economic character of the school community:	Hutchins-McMichael School, a Title One School situated in an economically depressed area, serves approximately 525 students. Approximately 98% of the student population qualifies for the Federal Free Lunch Program. Approximately 50% of the students ride district school busses or public transportation to school daily. Many parents are unemployed or working minimum wage jobs. Several families are living with relatives or in shelters.
	Brief description of the general type(s) of books most needed:	There is a need for current literature of diverse genre for students in grades K-8. Award winning literature would provide excellent examples of narrative text and expository text for students. There is also a need for current reference and research materials in the core content areas of science and social studies.
	Other pertinent information about this library's need for our support:	Hutchins-McMichael School is the result of merging three schools due to district consolidations. McMichael, built and designed as a middle school serving students in grades 6-8, now serves students in grades K-8. The combined schools created an increase demand on the library's resources. Other areas of critical need consumed budget resources before funding for library resources. The need for current books and reference materials is critical.

Name of school: McKenzie High School Nominated by: Dianne Anderson Vote for this library: Click:	Number of students:	400
	Brief description of the socio-economic character of the school community:	McKenzie High School is the only high school in McKenzie, a small rural town in Northwest Tennessee. This town has been hard hit by factory closings and the library has been faced with budget cutbacks every year. The school library would like to participate in the Volunteer State Book Awards where the students read books chosen by the Tennessee Association of School Librarians and vote for their favorite.
	Brief description of the general type(s) of books most needed:	Reading is one of the sections on the ACT and to improve scores on this section, one of the strategies is to read. But the students are being pulled in so many directions--school, extra-curricular activities, and jobs. Providing the Tennessee Volunteer Book Award candidates is a way to entice the students to read
	Other pertinent information about this library's need for our support:	In the past three years, the library has maintained the collection while facing budget cute each year. The budget was $4000 and has been cut to $3200 per year.

Name of school: Stamford Academy Nominated by: Letty Maxwell Vote for this library: Click:	Number of students:	130
	Brief description of the socio-economic character of the school community:	The school's socio-economic status is classified as underserved being that 92% of the 130 students are eligible for free or reduced lunch and 60% are involved with the Department of Children and Families. Approximately 60% of our students are Black, 28% are Latino, and 12% are White or another race.
	Brief description of the general type(s) of books most needed:	The school could use books that are of interest for high school students but on a sixth grade level. These students are high school aged, but read on an elementary level, so books of interest are important; such as sports, career, self-esteem, Science, etc.
	Other pertinent information about this library's need for our support:	Students are encouraged to read, however with limited books that directly relate to the student population, students are less likely to read. If we can put the right type of books in the library, we are sure to have students reading and improving their academic skills.

Name of school: Henry Jefferson Oliver Nominated by: Andre Elliott Vote for this library: Click:	Number of students:	[This field was left blank]
	Brief description of the socio-economic character of the school community:	I attended this school during my elementary years. It remains all African-American since its beginning. The children, as when I was there, are children who mostly have financial needs based on the low income of their parents.
	Brief description of the general type(s) of books most needed:	Any books that are considered popular for children to enjoy reading. I can provide a list, based on research, if this school is selected. It would be best to ask the principal to make some recommendations, if this school is selected.
	Other pertinent information about this library's need for our support:	Again, I was a student there 40 years ago. The area remains one in need of support.

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