Book Bus to travel to preschoolers
Plans for a child-friendly and colorfully decorated Book Bus are moving forward in the West Allegheny School District.
Geared for children through age 5, the community outreach is being created to foster early literacy and kindergarten readiness for children living in Findlay, North Fayette and Oakdale.
The Book Bus should hit the road just in time for summer.
Monark Student Transportation Corp., the school district’s transportation provider, donated the mini school bus and is overseeing its conversion. The district’s Parent Teacher Associations, participating municipalities, the West Allegheny Foundation and Kehm Oil Co. have donated money for the work, which has cost $70,000 to $75,000.
“We have been amazed by the overwhelming outpouring of support from these organizations and the community,” superintendent Jerri Lynn Lippert said. “The Book Bus represents a true community partnership that will remove barriers and promote literacy for all of our children.”
During the March 18 school board meeting, $1,786 in proceeds was donated from the West Allegheny teacher’s association gathered during two Jeans Day fundraisers and from Read Across America shirt sales. That was followed by a check for $2,000 from the Donaldson Elementary School PTA.
“Wow, that’s going to buy a lot of books,” president Debbie Mirich said. “We are loading up that Book Bus with some good reading!”
Monark estimated that the bus and its conversion cost the company $70,000 to $75,000.
The idea for the mobile library was introduced by administrators at West Allegheny last October. The bus will be used in conjunction with the introduction of fullday kindergarten in the 201516 school year to provide children with the skills necessary to be proficient readers by third grade, a benchmark indicator of high school graduation and career success.
“We are grateful for the collaborative efforts of all involved — the district for initiating the partnership and engaging the library in this new endeavor to help expand early literacy outreach efforts, Monark for [its] generous support and continued commitment to the children … and the financial supporters who have helped fund this fantastic new community resource,” said Amanda Kirby, youth services department head with the Western Allegheny Library in a release. “We know that together we can foster a love of learning in all children.”
The library will work with the district to offer programming that meets prekindergarten and kindergarten academic expectations. In addition to taking ownership of the bus, the library will hire and support an early literacy outreach specialist to organize, conduct and promote early learning.
The bus will travel to community neighborhoods circulating books to children and educational resources to parents. Early childhood educational activities also will be offered.
“It is exciting when people in the community choose to work together to form something better for the community,” said Tracy Pustover, school board director and the district’s representative.
Money to fund ongoing operation costs is needed. Contributions may be made to: West Allegheny School District with Book Bus as the memo line. Mail to West Allegheny District Administration, 100 Bruno Lane, Imperial, PA 15126.