Library Update
Greetings Sunnybrook Community,
We are thrilled to share some wonderful news regarding our schools' library spaces and our ongoing commitment to your children’s education.
A Brand New Space for Our Students
On April 29, 2026, Nathan Hale Elementary hosted a special ribbon-cutting ceremony, sponsored by the Nathan Hale Library Planning Committee, to officially unveil our newly renovated library!
Prior to this project, the library had not seen a major renovation in over 25 years. While it received a fresh coat of paint in the summer of 2023, the overall space and furniture had remained largely untouched. This transformation marks a massive milestone for our school community.
Keeping Literacy Alive and Well
Even while our staff was busy weeding older books and reimagining the physical space, our students never lost access to the joy of reading. Thanks to the dedication of our teachers and certified staff, students regularly visited the library to:
Discover and check out exciting new titles.
Engage in dynamic literacy projects.
Develop a lifelong love for reading.
Creative Staffing & Community Partnerships
Many community members have wondered about the daily operations of our libraries. Currently, the district does not employ a full-time certified librarian. However, we have put creative, robust solutions in place to ensure our students don't miss a beat:
Expert Oversight: During the 2025–2026 school year, both district libraries were overseen by a retired reading specialist.
Lansing Library Collaboration: We partner frequently with the Lansing Library to introduce students to newly published works. Furthermore, the district has entered into an intergovernmental agreement with the local library, allowing us to borrow materials our school collections might not currently have.
Classroom Libraries: To bring books even closer to our students, every single classroom at Nathan Hale Elementary and all ELA classrooms at Heritage have been furnished with its own classroom library for daily checkout.
Our Staffing Philosophy: Prioritizing the Classroom
We want to be entirely transparent about our staffing choices. The decision not to employ a full-time librarian right now is a direct response to classroom teacher vacancies.
Our Priority: When faced with the choice of placing a long-term substitute in a core classroom or utilizing a certified educator who holds a librarian endorsement, our administrative team collectively determined that our students are best served by having a certified teacher leading the classroom.
Looking Ahead
The district's primary goal is to ensure that all students are educated by fully certified educators rather than substitute teachers. Once our core classroom staffing goals are met, the district will actively post, interview, and hire a dedicated district librarian.
In the meantime, our administration, reading specialist, and selected paraprofessionals will continue to manage daily library operations. Together with the incredible support of the Lansing Library, our classroom teachers, and our staff, we remain fully committed to introducing your children to captivating reading materials every day.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support!
Respectfully,
Dr. Millhouse-Pettis