Action Plan April 2, 2012 When preparing an action plan for our media program at Banks County Elementary,

we discovered that we had many areas that rated in the basic level of proficiency. After analyzing the results, we have a better understanding of why this happened. Our situation at our school is a little different. We share a full-time media specialist with our middle school. She splits her day between the two schools while two full-time paraprofessionals serve all full day at each school. Overall, we rated basic in eleven out of nineteen target indicators, five proficient, and only three exemplary. So the first step of our action plan would be to employ two full-time media specialists so that one person does not have to split their time between two schools. This action would allow both schools to reach maximum potential by providing needed services in order to rate at an exemplary level of proficiency. Because of budget cuts across the state, we have not hired another media specialist. So due to lack of funding as the overarching umbrella, we are not able to meet exemplary requirements. The second step would be to deal with the situation at hand and try to do the best we can with what we have available. More collaborative planning with teachers should be added at least at half-time capacity. Some planning would be better than none at all. This would incorporate more information literacy standards into the classroom as well as AASL standards for the 21st century learner. This would also engage the media specialist in a more active teaching role. Through the use of data, the media specialist and classroom teachers could establish units that meet the needs of the students and provide services for diverse learners. Assessment would be shared between the teacher and media specialist. Both would be able to routinely assess students. The third step would be to get with administration and plan professional development for training of teachers on new technology. Half-time media specialist isnt enough so money needs to be allocated to make up for what is missing as technology is constantly changing. This would also include training teachers and students on GALILEO. Promotion and use of GALILEO would increase if this was supplemented. Simply knowing the password would not be the only thing that teachers understood about the usefulness of GALILEO. Administrative staff would need to meet with the media specialist more often than occasionally in order to help find ways to support the lack of having a full time media specialist that could incorporate more professional development if time wasnt a factor. Maybe even parent volunteers could be assembled to help with training students on new technology. Finally, flexible scheduling is at a proficient level but could move to exemplary level if a few actions were considered. Before and after school is not available for patrons. Staff members that are able to man the library may volunteer to open up the library early in the morning and others may volunteer to stay after to keep it open a little later. If not, this could be a duty that is assigned and rotated by staff members. Whatever options are available, the need to attempt to extend the hours needs to be addressed by administration. In addition, instructional nights could also be scheduled and made available for students, families, and the community. Research project nights, reading nights, book fair family nights are a few ideas that need to be addressed.