Schaffer a facilities plan

Autumn Schaffer

Georgia Southern University

Fall 2009

FRIT 7132

Facilities & Policies Plan

Please view the accompanying website created by Autumn Schaffer at:

http://aschaffer-facilitiesplan.weebly.com/index.html


Table of Contents

I. Description & Demographics of Host School

II. Original Floor Plans, Photographs & Description of Media Center

III. Teachers and Students: Comments about Media Center

IV. Revised Floor Plans & Description of New Media Center

V. Current Media Center Polices & Proposed Revisions of those Polices

I. Description of Host School

* Lamar County Primary is located in Barnesville, Georgia.

* It has won the Bronze Award for Highest Percentage of Students Meeting and Exceeding Standards.

* LCPS has also met their AYP goal for the past six consecutive years.

* Lamar County Primary’s website can be located at:

http://www.lamar.k12.ga.us/webpages/lcps/index.htm

I. LCPS Mission Statement

To give students entrusted in our care a firm foundation

filled with positive experiences on which they can build and become successful,

lifelong learners.

I. LCPS Vision Statement

We envision Lamar County Primary School as a school

where every child is an enthusiastic, confident learner

of basic knowledge who behaves responsibly and

respectfully.

I. LCPS Belief Statements

We believe that . . .

* all children will be successful learners.

* using data and developmentally appropriate activities will meet the needs of each individual student.

* education is a partnership among school personnel, parents, students, and our community.

* through setting and modeling high expectations, we will promote positive attitudes and a strong work ethic.

* LCPS is a learning environment that is both motivational and enjoyable.

To learn more about LCPS please visit: http://aschaffer-facilitiesplan.weebly.com/index.html


II. LCPS Media Center Floor Plan

*LCPS’ current media center is located near the front of the building, along with the front office and cafeteria.

*The media center currently functions on a fixed schedule where each kindergarten, 1st grade, and 2nd grade class visits the library as a whole group once a week.

* In addition to this, however, 1st and 2nd grade students are allowed to visit the library two at a time during the times of 8:30- 2:30.

Lamar County Primary School’s Layout

Front Parking Lot & Car Rider Area

Bus Loading Area

GymBreezewayBreezeway

Pre-K Playground

K-2nd

Playg

round

K-2

nd

Pla

yg

rou

nd

Office

Media Center

Art Room

Music Room

Cafeteria

Main/Front Doors

Afterschool/ Intervention/Special Ed. ClassroomsKindergarten Classrooms

Kindergarten Classrooms

Pre-K Classrooms

Counselor's Office

1st Grade Classrooms

2nd Grade Classrooms

1st Grade Classrooms

2nd Grade Classrooms

Doors leading outside

=

Host Primary School’s Media Center Layout

Conference Room

Reference Shelves

Walk-in Storage

Magazine ShelvesStorage/Lamination Room

Lib

rari

an

’s

O

ffice Circulation Desk

Book Return

Book Shelf (chapter books arranged by series- ie: Junie B. Jones, Nancy Drew)

Media Center Entrance

Books o

n T

ap

e S

tora

ge

Tables Table

s

Tables

Tables

Rug

Rug

Rocking Chair

Activeboard

Student ComputersOutsid

e Exit

E-book storage

Classroom sets of booksBook Shelves- Arranged

by Author’s Last Name

Big Book Storage

Showcase Book Display

II. LCPS Media Center Images

* The media center is located across

from the front office. It is located on the left-hand

side as one enters the front door of

the school.

II. LCPS Media Images

* Individuals enter the media center from this door.

* One can also see the storage area for the books on tape.


* This is the emergency door that leads to the outside of the school building.

* One can also see the librarian's office.


*There is plenty of whole group student seating, especially near the activboard.

* Some of the tables, however, seem to block the aisles of the book stacks.


*While there is small group

seating, it seems to also block

the aisles of the stacks of

books.


*There are not

obstacles around the emergency

exit. There is enough room for

wheelchairs and adaptive devices to fit through the

exit.


*This is the librarian’s

office as well as the

lamination/ storage

room. This storage room is

extremely small!

Notice: We were unpacking new e-books!


*This is the circulation

desk as well as another view of the lamination/

storage room.


*This is the circulation desk that is

usually occupied by either the

media specialist or the media

clerk/ parapro.


*This is the reference

section that is located near the

front of the library. It is a decent size for such a young age

group.


*This is the books on

tape storage.

*These are stacks for

small chapter books.

*This is the conference

room.


*This is the activboard.

*This is the conference

room.

*These are the student computers.


*This is the book return.

*This is the big book storage.

*This is the magazine storage.

III. Teacher & Student Survey

* To gather information about students’ opinions of the current media center, the media specialist as well as the graduate student asked one student from every kindergarten, 1st grade, and 2nd grade class to complete a survey. A total of 29 students were interviewed.

* To gather information about the teacher’s opinions of the current media center, a link to an online survey composed by the graduate student using PollDaddy.com was sent to the teachers via email. A total of 30 teachers responded to the survey. (Pre-kindergarten teachers were also allowed to participate in this survey seeing as they do use the media center to obtain resources for their classrooms.)*The teacher survey can be located at: http://surveys.polldaddy.com/s/C698BE454CAC408F/

http://surveys.polldaddy.com/s/C698BE454CAC408F/

III. Student Survey Questions

1. What do you like best about the media center?a. the booksb. the activboardc. the media teachers

2. If you were able to, would you come to the media center more? a. Yes b. No c. Maybe

3. Would you like to use a computer lab in the media center?a. Yes b. No c. Maybe

III. Student Survey Questions

4. What is the best thing about the media center?

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

5. What does the media center need?

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

III. Results of Student Survey

1. What do you like best about the media center?a. the books- 10 studentsb. the activboard- 14 studentsc. the media teachers- 5 students

2. If you were able to, would you come to the media center more? a. Yes- 21 students b. No- 2 students c. Maybe- 6 students

3. Would you like to use a computer lab in the media center? a. Yes- 24 students b. No- 3 students c. Maybe- 2 students


4. What is the best thing about the media center?

Common answers include:

* the activboard

*checking out new books

*having story time

*watching “movies” (ebooks) on the activboard

*playing with the stuffed animals (actually they are display themes)

*looking at the different types of books on the shelves

*the book fair


5. What does the media center need?

Common answers include:

*more computers

*another activboard

*more books (pop-up, Eye Spy)

*bean bag chairs

*toys to play with and read to

III. Results of Teacher Survey

1. Which of the following would you say is a core strength of the

current media center? a. Technology- 13 teachersb. Age-Appropriate Resources- 17 teachersc. Comfortable areas for pleasure reading- 0 teachers

2. Do you think the current media center provides enough accommodations for the special needs population?

a. Yes- 4 teachers b. No- 26 teachers 3. How do you feel about having a student computer lab

within the media center?

a. Yes! That would be great!- 19 c. I don’t think it is a good idea- 2

b. I would like it but I could also function without it.- 9


4. How do you feel about the media center's current scheduling system?

a. I think it is fine. (I visit once a week with my entire class). -10 teachers b. I would like to just schedule when I would like to come and not

have a set weekly time. – 7 teachersc. I would like to keep my set weekly time but also have the option

of scheduling for specific activities- 13 teachers

5. What is the best element/function of the current media center? Common Responses were:* Technology (ebooks, activboard) *Friendly Environment * Student accessibility *Age-appropriate materials* Knowledge of Media Specialist *Plenty of Room for Classes* Teacher resources (books on tape, ebooks, series collections)


6. What do you think would be the most beneficial change made to enhance the current media center?

Common Responses were:

* Lessen the amount of books and displays* Include more computers for students to use*Age-appropriate seating (bean bag chairs, soft chairs)*More individual time for classes to use the library (extended time)*Specific information displays (geared toward a specific genre,

topic, or author)*Small group areas for students to work together or for teachers to

use for intervention practices. (also can be used for individual testing)

Elementary School’s Media Center Design Proposal

Librarian’s office

Com

pu

ter

Lab

Small Group/ Intervention Area

E-book storage

Activ

eb

oard

Tables

Tables

Entrance

Exit

Showcase of Event/Holiday Books

Beanbag Beanbag

& Soft

& Soft

ChairsChairs

Author of the Month Display

Circulation Desk

Book Return

Display for Resources for Teachers

Student Computers

Die cuts, Lamination, Poster-maker area

MagazinesReferences

Classroom sets of books

Books on tape

Sto

rag

e f

or

extr

a

teach

er

resou

rces,

gu

ides,

un

it

su

pp

lies,

&

textb

ooks

Broadcast/ Morning Announcements Center

Book Shelves (arranged by author’s last name)

Specialized Intervention Table

IV. Revised Media Center Floor Plan

* Instead of rearranging the current media center, a new floor plan for an elementary school was established based upon the responses of the students and teachers.

*As suggested by teachers and supported by research(*), the new center is obstacle-free and allows for easy access for all students, even those with adaptive devices, to move freely in the media center. The students, even those in wheelchairs, are now able to fit through the stacks of shelves and use the computers with ease. Also, the students are able to join whole group, small group, or the reading area while still using their adaptive seating.

(*) Wajahn, R. (2006). Everyone’s invited: Ways to make your library more welcoming to children with special needs. School Library Journal, 52 (2), 46-48.


* Since this media center is designed for slightly older students, the reference area was extended as well as moved to an area, near the student collaboration section, that would allow for easy access.

* Based upon suggestions by teacher, a small group intervention area complete with round and rectangular tables is placed near one side of the library so that students can work together on projects without disturbing the rest of the media center.

Seating may look similar to images provided by Bright Kids

Quick & Promatech.


* Perhaps the most drastic change would be the remodeling of a conference room (which is no longer used) into a student computer lab. Conferences are now held in each grade-level’s resource room. Suggested by teachers and students, as well as supported by research (*) this computer lab would allow teachers to conduct interactive lessons without booking the entire media center. Also, the only other computer lab within the school is used for activity time. Teachers are not allow to schedule appointments in there. This computer lab is also in a separate room so that it will not disturb the other activities in the media center. (*) Brown, J. (2007). This is the door. Knowledge Quest, 35 (3), 20- 23.


* This computer lab must have at least 25 desktop computers. A printer as well as a projector or activboard would also be nice features to include within this computer lab. It should look similar to this image from P & J company.


* Based upon suggestions by teachers, students, and research (*), a comfortable seating area has been added to a corner of the media center. This area will be used for students to sit quietly and read during the day. A shelf with holiday/current event books is located nearby. Also, seating for those with physical impairments will also be included in this area. These devices will be adequately used, especially in the self contained special education classroom that educates three students who use wheelchairs. These adaptive devices will be stored in the large storage room located in the back of the media center when they are not being used. This will allow those with disabilities to also enjoy the small group, whole group, and reading centers. (*) Wajahn, R. (2006). Everyone’s invited: Ways to make your library more welcoming to children with special needs. School Library Journal, 52 (2), 46-48.


*Comfortable seating provided by Promatech.

*Adaptive device provided by Rifton.com.


*Adaptive device provided by Rifton.com.


* Based upon the suggestions of students and teachers, several other student computers were added in the media center. These can be used for remediation, interventions, activities/games, as well as using an online card catalog system to look up books in the library. The circulation desk is placed so that the specialist/clerk can monitor the students at the computer, looking through the shelves, using the small group area, or in the reading area.

*Student computers may look similar to these provided by Gressco Ltd.


* Based on research (*), a specialized intervention table has been established for students who need small intervention practices with minimal distractions.

* Based upon suggestions by teachers, an author display area has been set up so that those who enter the media center will see it. This display may vary from books, resources, or even teacher/student made productions focused on a key topic, person, genre, or subject.

*This display area may look similar to these provided by Gaylord Furnishings.

(*) Guild, S. (2008). LD accommodations in the school library. Knowledge Quest, 37 (1), 24-29.


* An area for die-cutting and lamination is provided within the media center. In the original plan this was located in a storage room and the media specialists were only allowed to use it. It would be more efficient, however, to have this area somewhere in which teachers could use it themselves. A poster-maker is also added to these resources. This allows teachers to design posters and print them out!

* In the original plans the morning broadcast center is located in a small storage room beside the media center. For the new plan, however, a special room is allotted for the broadcast. This will allow for more room and flexibility.

This is a typical poster-maker from Variquest.

http://www.militaryposterpaper.com/images/variquest.jpg

V. Current Media Center Policies

The educational goals of the Lamar County School Systems, as described by the Board Governance System is:

1. To contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the school by facilitating learning;

2. To plan and develop media programs to support the instructional program of the system;

3. To make available all types of media and the accompanying technology to support curriculum demands and to meet

student and teacher needs;

4. To foster the development of reading, listening and viewing skills, evaluation of information sources and development of

research skills.

V. Current Media Center PoliciesProvided by the Lamar County Board Governance

SystemAccessibly of Media Centers Media Centers for the system shall be accessible to both

individual students, groups and staff members throughout the instructional day each day of the school year based upon the instructional need of the students and teachers. If a student is enrolled in a state approved course offered by this school outside the regular instructional time, all school-owned print and non-print materials will be accessible.

*The Lamar County Primary media center is open to students from 8:30 until 2:30, Monday through Friday. It

is open to faculty from 8:00 until 3:30, Monday through Friday. It is also open to the faculty during the week of pre- and post-planning.


SystemAccessibly of Media Centers (continued) *While the policy does not explicitly state the schedule of the

library, LCPS’ media center current functions of a fixed schedule. Each kindergarten, first grade, and second grade class visits the library once a week, during the hours of 8:30- 2:30, during a specifically allotted time. First and second grade students are allowed to visit the library two at a time to check out books during instructional hours.

*A proposed alteration to this policy is to extend library hours as well as develop a flexible schedule so that

classes are able to visit the library on a “needs basis”. (See “Proposed Policy Revision section.”


SystemUse of Media Resources for Approved Courses *Media resources may be used for any Georgia Board of

Education approved courses offered outside the regular instructional time.

*Lamar County Primary, at one time, used the media center conference room for weekly grade level meetings.

Now, however, these are held in each grade level’s resource room on a designated hallway. Training of staff members for state assessments, such as DIBELS or GKIDS, takes place within the media center. This training may take several days and the library is not open to the public. Also, classes for PLU credits are occasionally offered after school, usually from 3:30 to 5:00.


SystemMedia Center Staff

* The number of professional staff and/or media center aides assigned to the media center shall be in compliance with standards set by the Georgia Board of Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Valid certificates must be held by the professional staff. Licenses must be held by clerical aides.

*Lamar County Primary current employees one full-time certified media specialist as well as one full-time paraprofessional media clerk. These two individuals

are responsible for the inventory, shelving, basic up-keep, and expansion of the current library facility.


SystemAccountability of Media Equipment

* Students and school personnel shall be accountable for textbooks, media, equipment and all other instructional materials purchased through public and school funds. Reimbursement shall be made through the procedures established by the school system.

*To ensure that students are accountable for the resources that they borrow from the library, parents are

required to sign a wavier stating that they will, to the best of their ability, pay for any lost media or books that their child has checked out from the library. One week after the media or book is due back to the library, a print notice is sent home by the media specialist stating the name, author, and price of the book.


SystemDiscarding or “Weeding” of Inventory* Media materials classified for disposal shall be sent to county

facilities to be destroyed. The disposal of media equipment shall be in accordance with the rules

and regulations of the program under which the equipment was purchased.

The school system’s form shall be completed for any media material or equipment items that are to be disposed. The form shall be maintained on filed in the media center for the required record retention period.

The system’s criteria shall be followed in identifying media material to be disposed.

*LCPS’ media specialist conducts inventory of the facility’s resources twice a year, during pre-planning and during post-planning. This is when the majority of the weeding or discarding of out-dated media occurs.


SystemOrganization and Availability of Print and Non-Print Materials * All school-owned print and non-print materials shall be organized and made

available through the media center. Other provisions may be made for basic textbooks, items purchased with categorical funds and items useful in one specific instructional content area.

The Dewey Decimal system shall be used to organize and process media

materials.

All media materials other than student basal texts and consumable materials shall be organized and processed through the media center. Teacher editions of basal texts shall be processed through the media center.

Supplementary sets of enrichment, non-basal texts shall be processed through the media center. Said texts shall not exceed 30 copies at any given time and shall be stored in the media center when not checked out to a teacher.

All instructional equipment shall be processed through the media center.


SystemOrganization and Availability of Print and Non-Print

Materials (continued) *Lamar County Primary currently allows one book to be

checked out by each student at a time. When the student returns the book, he/she is allowed to check out another book. The student must wait, however, 24 hours before returning and checking out another book. Teachers are allowed to check out 10 books at a time, but only 5 that are of the same “topic.” This is to ensure that some books on every topic are always available within the media center. Teachers, but not students, are allowed to check out traditional resource materials, such as encyclopedias or almanacs. Teachers are also allowed to check out ebooks and class sets of books. They are allowed to keep them a month at a time, but can renew and keep each set for a total of two months.


SystemStudent Internet and Computer Usage within the Media Center *Student usage of computers or internet access must be directly

monitored by an employee of the school system. Students/student’s parents must have signed an acceptable use policy. This policy must be on file within the school building.

*Lamar County Primary requires that each student or student’s parents sign an acceptable use policy at the beginning of every school year. If the form is not signed then the student is not allowed to use a computer or have his/her picture taken and placed in any public area until the form is signed.

*The student computers within the media center are strategically placed so that the media specialist or media clerk can observe the student at all times. If these individuals are unavailable, a teacher or a hired paraprofessional must supervise the student as he/she uses the computer.

V. Teacher Comments about Policies

* In order to obtain teacher comments about the current polices of the media center as well as to gain their opinion of new policy ideas, a link to a survey was sent via email. A total of 30 teachers participated in this survey. It can be viewed at: http://surveys.polldaddy.com/s/BCCBE278DB6DDB36/

* The following are the results of the survey:

1. In general, how familiar are you with the media center's current policies?

a. Very Familiar – 6 teachersb. Somewhat Familiar – 16 teachersc. Not familiar at all- 8 teachers

http://surveys.polldaddy.com/s/BCCBE278DB6DDB36/


2. Do you think food and drink, even coffee, should be allowed into the media center by teachers or students?

a. Food or drink should not be allowed at all -26 teachersb. It should be allowed by teachers but not students – 4

teachersc. Yes, food and drink should be allowed - 0 teachers_________________________________________________3. Do you think the media center should be closed (and used)

during standardized testing?

a. No- the media center should never be closed. -13 teachersb. Yes- it should be closed during testing. -2 teachersc. It should be closed during testing only if it is being actually

used for the test. It should re-open to the public after the test is finished each day. – 15 teachers


4. Are you in favor of extending the media center's hours of operation to 8:00 to 3:30 for students and teachers?

a. Yes -19 students b. No- 11 students_________________________________________________5. Do you think classes should be allowed to visit the library

for instructional purposes outside of their allotted "check out" time?

a. Yes – 10 teachersb. No – 2 teachersc. Yes, but only if they have signed up in advance.- 18

teachers__________________________________________________6. Do you think students should be allowed to check out more

than one book at a time?a. Yes- 24 teachers b. No- 6 teachers

V. Proposed Policy Revisions Based on Teacher Comments and Research from other Schools

Accessibly of Media Centers (revision) *It is proposed that the media center’s hours be extended for student

usage so that teachers and students can access the media center from 8:00 until 3:30. Since the media center is already opened for teachers, it is believed that students should also be able to take advantage of this extra time if their schedule allows.

*It is also proposed that the media center’s facilities (such as the computer lab, whole group area, or small group area), be reserved by teachers for specific activities. The media specialist will also need to be consulted to determine if her efforts will need to be available during this time. Teachers will not be allowed to reserve sections of the library if it conflicts with another class’ regular time allotment. Teachers will have to supervise their students during this time and sign up at least one week in advance.


Accessibly of Computer Lab *It is proposed that the new computer lab, developed in the attached room

of what used to be a conference room, should be available to classes through out the regular school day. Teachers should accompany their students within the lab setting, unless it has been prior arranged that the media specialist or clerk will supervise the students. The students, under no circumstances, should utilize the computer lab setting without a supervising adult or without having a parent-signed acceptable use policy. Teachers will need to sign a documented journal of the time and date, as well as the number of the computer that each student used, in order to help the librarian keep track of the computer’s history.

*Teachers, paraprofessionals, and other hired employees are permitted to use the computer lab for educational purposes, which includes checking school-based email. The computer lab will have blocking filters for non-educational websites. Hired employees will also need to document the date, time, and number of the computer that they used.


Alternative Use of the Media Center *The media center is not a location to be used for “time out” or other

behavioral punishment situations. Students are allowed to visit the media center for “study hall” if they have completed required class work. Teachers will need to submit, in writing or by email, an explanation of why the students are attending the media center as well as a date and time for the students to return. Students are also allowed to visit the media center if they are not allowed to participate in other classroom activities (due to religious, personal, or health issues.)

*During this time students are allowed to utilize the “reading center” of the library, where they may read books or magazines. If the media specialist or clerk is able to supervise them, the students may use a computer within the media center. The student will also need to have a signed acceptable use policy on file within their permanent records if they are to use a computer.


Community Use of the Media Center *It is proposed that the school media center be used for

educational purposes only during the hours of 8:00 until 3:30, Monday through Friday. It is also proposed that only current students and hired employees use the media center and its accompanying computer lab. If an exception is made, however, the official in charge of the party, club, or group utilizing the media center will need to sign at waiver stating that he/she is responsible for any damages or lost materials during the time of the group’s usage of the media center. It is not recommended, however, that the computer lab be used by any party other than current students or hired employees of the school system.


“House Keeping” of the Media Center

*No food or drink of any kind is allowed in the media center.*Every person is responsible for their own belongings while in

the media center.*Each person should remove their own trash as well as leave

the media center’s resources the way that they were found. *No loitering is allowed. Students should use the facility for

educational purposes only. *Collaboration is encouraged, but noise level should be so that

others in the media center are not distracted. *Media supplies and resources should be held with highest

regard and should be replaced (or paid for) by any individual who does harm or destroys them.

*Based upon regulations of Leeward Community College (http://emedia.leeward.hawaii.edu/emc/sites/default/files/Facilities_Policies_TVPro.pdf)


Maintenance of Media Center Facility and Equipment *In order to ensure that the media center’s equipment is

protected on and off campus, it is proposed that all teachers and hired employees sign an annual wavier stating that they are responsible for paying for any damage done to the equipment while it is checked out under their name. The media specialist is advised to not allow employees to use equipment unless it has been checked out to them. If the hired employee is not able to pay for the damages, a payment system will need to be arranged by the media specialist and approved by the principal and/or superintendent of the school system. Media center equipment, used on or off campus, should not be checked out to personnel not currently employed by the school or school system.


Media Center Testing Procedures

*Based upon teacher’s comments, it is suggested that the media center remain open to the public during standardized testing, unless the media center is actually used for testing students during that time. If so, however, the media center should be reopened to the public (teachers and students) after the time allotment of testing has been completed for the day.

Other Resources contained within Media Center

* Teachers are allowed to use other resources, including the die cuts, laminator, or poster maker during the functioning hours of the media center. They are required, however, to initial a “daily use” sheet to help the media specialists determine what materials are used the most and by whom.


Request for Materials within the Media Center

*Teachers should request, in writing (including email), specific materials housed within the library, including sets of books, specialized technology, ipods, or specialized textbooks at least 24 hours in advance before picking them up. (This allows time for the media specialist to locate and do a pre-inventory on them.)

Video or Multi-media

*Videos or other multi-media should be requested in writing 24 hours before they are to be picked up. These videos should be rewound and returned within two days after receiving them. *Policies based from Helena Elementary School:

http://www.shelbyed.k12.al.us/schools/hes/faculty/cbell/policy.htm


Students with Disabilities in the Media Center

*Despite disability, students should be allowed to participate in the most normalized environment as possible. Adaptive devices and adult assistance should be used to aid students in manipulating the media center’s resources to the extent of their non-disabled peers.

A book is like a garden carried in the pocket.

~ Chinese proverb ~

*Clipart provided by “Cute Colors” at: http://www.cutecolors.com/

http://www.cutecolors.com/

