Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Facilities Plan
Amy W. Walker
Dr. Repman
FRIT 7132
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a total of 803 students in grades 6-8. There is quiet a bit of diversity among the students.
Out of 803 students, over half of the students are white (469 students). The school
disadvantaged (494 students). There are also a large number of students identified as
having a disability (104 students). As a teacher at DCMS, I found the numbers to be a bit
surprising. The school appears to consist of about the same amount of African-American
students as White students. However, it is more obvious that many students are identified
as economically disadvantaged.
Fifty-two faculty members are employed at DCMS and contribute to the school’s
success as a Title I School of Distinction. The library consists of one full time Media
The media center must instill many policies in order to efficiently run the school
library. Several of the policies are identified in the power point presentation. Other
• Reserving the Media Center: In order to reserve the media center, faculty
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students have a pass. Teachers are expected to be with the class if more
of materials needed to purchase that would assist the teacher in his or her
given during the first 2-3 weeks of school during the student’s reading
classes. Review orientation for 7th and 8th grade students is provided
during this same time period. The media specialist is available before
school, during the school day, or after school to assist teachers with
instructional planning.
• The library will be open from 7:45 A.M. until 3:45 P.M.,
• The staff will come promptly to your room (if at all possible)
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may be purchased.
There are several policies that are listed above that are not always followed in the
media center. For example, students are not allowed to take AR tests in the library. They
must test with their reading teacher, or with the reading teacher on the opposing team.
Also, if a problem arises with technology in the classroom, most teachers, including
myself, first notify the technology assistant at the school. This is because of the many
demands of the media specialist. Most of the time, she is not able to leave the media
center immediately in order to assist all teachers. The technology assistant normally
comes as soon as possible and works to reach a solution to the problem. Many times, he
also assists the media specialists with technical problems in the library.
The library does not supply school supplies for student purchase. Normally, the
teacher supplies pencils and paper for students that need to borrow or purchase materials.
It would help if the library stored materials for student purchase. Students could
purchase materials during homeroom and be better equipped for the day. However, this
did not pose concern among teachers that completed the survey (survey monkey), so it
The library is only equipped to seat 64 students. Given the size of the library, I
believe it should be equipped to seat more students when needed. The audiovisual room
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that is provided for storage of equipment would be better for teachers and the librarian if
it were organized more effectively. Shelves lining the walls and the proper
I really enjoy the fact that the library is open all throughout the day. Students can
visit the library during any class period unless an event is occurring in the library at that
time. Without the media clerk, it would be very hard for the media center to operate at all
several teachers expressed concern about the amount of time that students are not allowed
to check out books in the library throughout the year. Normally, students cannot go to
the library for a total of 2 or 3 weeks at the beginning of the school year. They are also
not allowed to check out books during the last 3 weeks of the school year. Any time the
library is used for other purposes, students are not allowed to enter to check out books.
For example, the annual book fair lasts 2 weeks. During this time period, no students are
allowed to enter the library to check out or renew books. This becomes a burden for
students and teachers, given the requirements for AR during each 9 week period. Given
more volunteer help in the media center, the media specialist and media clerk may be
better able to meet the needs of all students without closing the library for check-out of
materials.
Both teachers and students expressed concern about the selection of reading
materials found in the library. One of the media center’s policies is to honor the request
for new materials as soon as funding becomes available. This policy is upheld in the
media center; however, funding seems to pose the biggest problem. In order to honor the
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request and “weed” out the older books in the library, more funding should be allocated
The floor plans for the new media center reflect a more modern library that is
better equipped for the 21st century learner. The circulation desks are placed in the center
of the media center, which provides a 180-degree angle of the library. Using the
modified circulation desks, two lines can form on opposing sides to ensure a more
The computer workstations were modified to provide more places for students to
work and research information. The computers would also be upgraded to more modern
All fiction and nonfiction books are categorized in separate areas. The bean bags
in the current library were replaced with an ottoman and chair. Students can come to this
area to read books, read the periodicals, or work on school work in a more relaxed
environment.
Two storage rooms are provided to better organize the equipment housed in the
media center. A teacher workroom is now equipped with a refrigerator and microwave,
as well as other equipment provided for teachers. The nearby restroom will allow
teachers to use the facilities without leaving their students in the library. A nearby
The 21st-century media center will better accommodate all learners and provide
more opportunities for teachers to utilize the facilities in the media center. Handicap
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students can easily navigate throughout the aisles of the library. The workstations are
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References
http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/ReportingFW.aspx?PageReq=101&SchoolID=43453