TROJANS READ
HS School District launches book bus
The Hot Springs School District launched its Trojans Read Book Bus Tuesday to get the community and students involved in summer reading.
“We are thrilled to add the Trojans Read Book Bus to our fleet,” Superintendent Stephanie Nehus said. “This service allows us to maintain important relationships with our kids all summer, and hopefully, to keep books easily accessible to them. Good reading skills are among the most basic skills that lead to academic growth for our kids.”
To keep sharp reading skills, the families need books, she said, noting the district was “deeply grateful for the generous community partners” at Kamo’s Kids Foundation for recognizing this need at all school districts in Garland County.
“We also appreciate the kind support from Dollar Sheet Metal, who donated all sheet metal used to remodel the interior of the bus. Thank you to these local organizations for partnering with us to fund such a unique initiative that ultimately makes reading cool and fun,” Nehus said.
She noted the district also appreciates the hard work of its maintenance team and media specialists for their role in bringing the project to life.
“We hope all of Hot Springs celebrates and participates with us, as we continue offering a Summer Meal Program, first-ever online Summer Learning Activities, and our new Trojans Read Book Bus,” Nehus said.
Adriane Barnes, the district’s communications and public relations coordinator, said the book bus was created to help the district keep books accessible to its students all summer long, and to help them bridge the learning gap that often takes place during the summer by staying connected to their students.
“Just like our other summer services — the Summer Meal Program and our online Summer Learning Activities — we know that maintaining relationships with our families through the summer by offering helpful services and resources also helps to ensure that relationships remain strong between our staff members and students throughout the school year,” she said.
“Our best chance at fostering true learning for our kids starts with strong relationships,” Barnes said.
Barnes said the district’s media specialists
had compiled books for all reading levels, from Pre-K to adults, which are available in a variety of subject areas, and also include a bilingual section.
She said all members of the community, no matter their age, are invited to check out books from the bus. The only information required from those who check out books will be a name, grade (if applicable), bus stop and the number of books.
The media specialists will collect the information via technology on board and keep track of which books are most popular so they can keep those reading levels and subject areas well-stocked. The process is based on a borrowing system, but if books aren’t returned, there is no penalty, Barnes said.
The school’s goals are always student-centered, she said, noting research shows when children read at least 20 minutes per day their academic achievement improves. The book bus allows them to give the students the best chance of reading through the summer by bringing books and support from the district’s media specialists and volunteers directly to them, she said.
“In addition to the services and offerings from local libraries like our wonderful Garland County Library, mobile book buses keep reading and reading skills top-of-mind for communities,” Barnes said.
Media specialists and district volunteers will be on board through July 30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the summer. One media specialist will be inside the bus to check out books, and one to two additional media specialists or district volunteers will be helping people in lining up and choosing books, she said.
“All safety precautions will be taken to limit the number of people on board at once,” Barnes said.
She noted the district worked with Lake Hamilton School District, which completed its mobile book bus called the Wolf Pack Reading Den last summer, to learn from its expe- rience. They also re-purposed a district school bus and partnered with Kamo’s Kids Foundation for matching grant funds.
“Our outstanding HSSD Transportation and Maintenance Department began work in February to remove all seating and traditional interior from the bus,” Barnes said.
“They then remodeled the entire space to allow for a small library area by installing new flooring, sealing the walls and windows with sheet metal, adding air conditioning, and adding cabinet space,” she said.
“We finished final steps just (last) week, by adding a wrap to the exterior of the bus to make it easily recognizable as it makes stops throughout Hot Springs,” Barnes said.
Kamo’s Kids Foundation provided a matching grant of $15,000 and Dollar Sheet Metal donated all the sheet metal used to remodel the interior of the bus. The district covered other costs in full through maintenance and operation funds, she said.
“Kamo’s Kids Foundation hopes to help fund a mobile book bus at all schools in Garland County. We are proudly the second bus that they have helped to fund,” Barnes said.
“We are deeply appreciative and grateful to this excellent community partner. They have been wonderful to us, and to students and schools across the area. Projects like this are a direct result of generous donations that are made to Kamo’s
Kids Foundation,” she said.
Kamo’s Kids Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2009 in memory of Kameron “Kamo” Thomas Hale. The foundation is grounded in Christian beliefs and follows the three main principles that Hale exhibited: “Kourage” to do what is right, “Kommitment” to excellence, and “Kompassion” for others, Barnes said.
“The primary focus of the foundation is to help children by providing them with athletic gear, special clothing needs, school supplies, and other items needed to participate in various school activities,” she said.
Barnes said that 100 percent of donations and proceeds provided to Kamo’s Kids Foundation are directed toward its mission.
On Tuesdays, the book bus will be at Family Dollar, 899 Park Ave., from 11-11:30 a.m.; Mountain View Heights on Spring Street from 11:45 a.m. to
12:15 p.m.; and the Webb Community Center, 127 Pleasant St., from 1-2 p.m.
On Thursdays, the book bus will be at Family Park on Family Park Road from 11-11:30 a.m.; Walmart Neighborhood Market, 1544 Malvern Ave. from
11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.; and LakePointe Church, 1343 Albert Pike Road from 1-2 p.m.