Nevada Union High School

Textbooks are a necessary part of the High School experience. Some textbooks are now valued at a purchase cost over $100.00, with other paper back work books costing up to $50.00! The average Freshman will be using about $300.00 worth of textbooks. That estimate goes up with each succeeding year. It is important to understand the textbook process to help avoid having to pay high fines and debts on textbooks. We use a Follett system called Textlink to manage the textbook process at Nevada Union. The program effectively links the student’s ID number to the textbook number code in each book.

Dan Rodriguez Parent Volunteer

According to the California Ed Code 48904, the pupil, or a minor pupil and their parent or guardian, is liable to the Nevada Joint Union High School District for all property belonging to the school district that was loaned to the pupil, and not returned to the district by the due date, or returned damaged. Nevada Union has a policy in place that requires the replacement costs of textbooks too damaged to be used again, and a rebinding fee for books returned with binding damage. It is important that parents and students understand that their student’s official transcripts and diploma can be held until payment for fines are received. (Ed code 48904(b)).

Tina Skrukrud Volunteer Coordinator

Once the book becomes the students responsibility; they should enter their name on the inside name label, and cover the books to help prevent book damages. Many things can happen in the life of a textbook, including becoming lost or stolen. It is a difficult truth that regardless of what happens to the books and materials, the student and parent or guardian are responsible for replacement costs. The collected funds are returned to the specific department to allow that department to purchase replacement books and materials.

All students are encouraged by the staff to properly care for the school materials loaned to them throughout the school year.

A large part of the textbook program’s success is the many parent volunteers who work closely with staff to assist with the assessing, repairing and shelving of the textbooks. At the beginning of the school year the books are checked out to new students, by linking their student ID number to the Follett code on each book. At the end of the year, students are encouraged to bring all of their textbooks to the new textbook room in B1. When a book is returned and scanned into the system, it can instantly verify who the book belongs to. A common end of the year question from students and parents is: “My student turned in her history book, but you are saying she still owe one!”  We find that often students who share lockers or have textbooks sitting out in classroom settings sometimes tangle up their books.  Having the student turn in their books personally gives the volunteers and staff a chance to verify their ownership and acknowledge that they are cleared. Books not returned to B1, but left in classrooms, school grounds and lockers are considered abandoned by the student.

Our textbook inventory adds up to well over a million dollars, and is an investment for your student’s education, and the students that will follow. Each textbook is an asset to a student’s success in that subject. Many hours of work and care are spent each year by staff and parent volunteers getting the books ready for the school year.

Understanding the value towards the educational process of the use and care of textbooks loaned to each student is a step towards responsible stewardship.

The library staff and textbook volunteers are part of a proactive partnership with each student to help make their textbook use a satisfying educational experience. We have an “open door” policy to work with students who may have problems with their books, so “Come on in, let’s get reading”!