Media Coordinators deserved better during teacher appreciation week.

The portion of my public comments about our media center coordinators being removed from their positions and allowed to "reapply."

06/02/2026

Good evening. My name is Kaitlyn Sirico, and I am the parent of six Union County Public Schools students.

I am here tonight to ask the Board and Superintendent to reflect on your priorities. Are student well-being and education truly the priority? If so, why are we continually asking students and teachers to maintain top per

formance while removing the very resources that support them?

Media coordinators are far more than librarians. They promote literacy, teach research and digital citizenship skills, support teachers, manage technology, provide alternative testing spaces, and often serve as a safe, welcoming place for students who are overwhelmed or struggling. Their impact reaches far beyond academics.

We've already reduced full-time nursing coverage in many schools, and now we are cutting media coordinator positions and discussing cuts to counselors. At what point do we stop balancing budgets on the backs of student-facing staff? These positions are essential, not optional.

For the past year, we have been told that funding challenges are the fault of county commissioners or the state. If that is true, then show us. Provide full transparency in the budget. Show taxpayers where the money is going so parents and community members can advocate where the pressure truly belongs.