Arlington School Librarian Facing Down Goliath
ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) - Barbara Reed has dedicated 33 years to education, both teaching and being a librarian. She's currently working at Arlington's Sherrod Elementary School. But with state budget cuts threatening to slash 390 Arlington Independent School District jobs, Reed is turning a new page in her career: She's helping organize a campaign to fight for state funding.
"To not have a librarian would be very very serious and it would be detrimental and it would be serious," Reed said of the possibility of losing her job, "But not having teachers would be even more serious."
"A little over $200-million of our budget comes from the state which is almost half our budget," said Arlington ISD spokesperson Amy Casas. "And out of that we're projected to lose about $35-million next year which is a huge amount of money."
Early budget estimates call for cutting 132 teachers. Other positions rolled back would include teaching assistants and support personnel. But Austin lawmakers are facing a budget shortfall as high as $27 Billion. Almost all of the state budget goes to education and healthcare making it likely education faces cuts.
State cuts would compound Arlington's budget woes. The $38-million loss of state funding would be added to the district's own revenue shortfall of $13.3 million. Reed and other arlington educators are planning to rally teachers, voters and local leaders to lobby Austin legislators not to cut Arlington's state funding.
"Where there's a will there's a way," Reed said. "If the Texas Legislature supported education they can find a way to find the money. If we don't take care of our children -- they're are future -- and if we don't take care of our children, we're short-changing our future.
Reed has no doubt this is a David versus Goliath battle. "That's a good metaphor for it," Reed said, "And I'll feel as triumphant as David because I believe we will make a difference."
