PSD hopes state will see the light about librarian
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, October 13th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – The Oregon Department of Education will be finding the Pendleton School District noncompliant for not having a licensed district librarian. Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Matt Yoshioka said that Washington Elementary School’s librarian, Kimbra Cook, is well schooled and doing an excellent job.
“In the law it states that even with a master’s degree and all this experience in city libraries, unless the person completes a school, university, college education program specifically for school libraries, they can’t get licensed,” he said.
Yoshioka said that’s harder to complete than it sounds.
“There isn’t a college or university in Oregon I’m aware of that even offers such a program anymore,” Yoshioka said. “It’s kind of like trying to find a unicorn these days to find a licensed librarian.”
He said the district is hopeful the state will update its requirements, and is standing by Cook.
“We’ll be out of compliance, but we feel confident that the services will maintain the same level of performance,” he said.
