Polk County Education
14A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • March 16, 2016
BOOK DRIVE
SCHOOL NOTES
CSD superintendent to host tours
Community asked to share literacy through donated books
By Emily Mentzer
Spread
love of
reading
The Itemizer-Observer
MONMOUTH/INDEPEN-
DENCE — A book drive is
underway to help children
in Central School District by
increasing their home li-
braries.
“The goal is … to coordi-
nate with some of the local
teachers,” said Arturo Var-
gas, community impact and
engagement director of the
United Way of the Mid-
Willamette Valley. “They are
already working directly
with families and young
children. As soon as they get
the books, they’re going to
be delivered to those kids
and families.”
Reading has been an indi-
cator of success in educa-
tion, Vargas said.
“Unfortunately, many
families in our region do not
have the means to purchase
enough books for their chil-
dren,” he said. “Consequent-
ly, a large percentage of
young students enter school
with a high deficit in reading
and are not able to perform
well in school.”
People may donate new
or gently used children’s
picture or chapter books,
which will be distributed
through the Fostering Hope
Initiative among the area’s
youth and to local free little
libraries in the area, Vargas
said.
The book drive is a com-
bined effort of the United
Way through the Reading
for All initiative, Roth’s
Fresh Markets, the Foster-
ing Hope Initiative, and
local college volunteers,
Vargas said.
Bilingual books are of par-
ticular importance, Vargas
said.
“As you know, 38 percent
of the population in Inde-
pendence has a Latino back-
ground,” he said. “They
speak Spanish at home, so it
EMILY MENTZER/ Itemizer-Observer
Little Free Libraries, like this one in front of the Mon-
mouth Montessori School, could pop up in more places.
would be a plus if they had
bilingual books so parents
can read to their kids in their
own language.”
Learning to read in any
language is important,
and increasing fluency in
more than one language
can be beneficial, Vargas
said.
“Knowing two or three
different languages definite-
ly gives us a different out-
look on life and the capacity
of the brain,” he said.
Because reading is so crit-
ical to learning, it is crucial
for community members to
get involved in ways to help
kids become readers, Vargas
said.
“Get involved in local
schools or create your own
reading club,” he said. “If we
had one of those little li-
braries on every corner, or
every other corner, of every
neighborhood in Polk Coun-
ty, that would be fantastic. It
What: United Way of
the Mid-Willamette Val-
ley Book Drive.
When: Now through
March 31.
Where: Drop-of loca-
tions are: Central Com-
munity Resource Center,
1610 Monmouth St., In-
dependence; Independ-
ence City Hall, 555 S.
Main St.; Roth’s Fresh
Markets, 1410 Mon-
mouth Ave., Independ-
ence; Western Oregon
University, Werner Uni-
versity Center, 345 Mon-
mouth Ave. N., Mon-
mouth.
Of note: Right now,
no drop-of locations are
available in Dallas. If you
would like to serve as a
drop-of location for Dal-
las, email Arturo Vargas
at avargas@united-
waymwv.org. All books
donated go to children in
that location. Books
should be new or gently
used and may be age-ap-
propriate for infants
through middle school.
Cash donations also will
be accepted.
For more informa-
tion: unitedway
mwv.org/childrens-book-
drive-2016.
would be great having fami-
lies come together and say-
ing, ‘Yes, we would like to
have a little house outside of
our property.’”
In addition to donating
gently used or new books to
the book drive, people can
donate to local United Way
education projects, become
a reader for Start Making a
Reader Today at local ele-
mentary schools, or build a
little library in your neigh-
borhood.
MONMOUTH/INDEPENDENCE — Central School District Su-
perintendent Buzz Brazeau will hold school walk-throughs for
the community.
The events are meant to give community members a peak
into classrooms throughout the district.
To participate in a tour, contact the district oice at 503-606-
2251.
The schedule is: Monmouth Elementary School, 9 to 10:30
a.m. on March 31; Independence Elementary School, 1 to 2:30
p.m. on April 5; Talmadge Middle School, 9 to 10:30 a.m. on
April 7; and Central High School from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on April 14.
Bond committee to host public forums
MONMOUTH/INDEPENDENCE — Central School District
board member Steve Moser said the bond exploratory commit-
tee has made visits to all the buildings in the school district.
Moser said that, in addition to previous concerns about facil-
ities, the committee was told that boilers at Ash Creek Elemen-
tary School were at the end of their life. He compared the boil-
ers and other parts used to build the school to car parts.
“When you talk about car parts, it’s good, better and best,”
Moser told the board at its March 7 meeting. “We put in good.
We should have been looking at best. So unfortunately, we
have to ix it.”
The school board will host a community forum before mak-
ing a decision in May on whether or not to pursue a facilities
bond. If a bond were to be placed on the ballot, it would be in
November.
Hofferber is Distinguished Educator
Hofferber
DALLAS — Lyle Elementary School irst-
grade teacher Stephanie Hoferber is Dallas
School District’s February Distinguished Ed-
ucator.
Andrew Woolsey, parent of a former stu-
dent, nominated Hoferber. He said she
“played a critical role in helping my son
make measurable academic gains.”
“Her dedication to her students and gen-
uine care for their well-being will change the
lives of many of our future generations,”
Woolsey added.
Her students said: “She had kindness” and “She cares for us.”
The Distinguished Educator Program recognizes “excellence
in teaching and learning” in Dallas School District schools.
Dallas High Choir Cabaret is Friday
DALLAS — The Dallas High School choir is putting on
Cabaret Friday at the high school, 1250 SE Holman Ave.
The show, a fundraiser for the program, will begin with the
choir singing a few songs as a group. After that, singers will per-
form solo or in small ensembles singing music of their choice.
Cabaret begins at 7 p.m. and admission is $3 for students
and seniors and $5 general. Tickets are available at the door.
For more information: 503-623-8336.