The Owensboro Public Schools announced today a partnership between six local banks, the Daviess County Public Library, the Messenger-Inquirer and the district’s nationally recognized Owensboro READS program.
As part of the program six local financial institutions will each adopt an OPS elementary and preschool. The Messenger-Inquirer will adopt Owensboro Middle School.
The Owensboro READS Initiative has taken off since it was launched last year. It has been featured in media outlets throughout the United States and even in England. Summer reading camps, an “Owensboro READS Week” proclamation by the City of Owensboro, and the “Read 30 Minutes A Day Challenge” have made Owensboro READS a success.
“We are incredibly thankful to live in a community where businesses support education. I hope these exciting new partnerships will show residents how important literacy is in our world,” said Dr. Nick Brake, OPS Superintendent.
The Evansville Federal Teachers Credit Union will adopt Hager Preschool. Republic Bank will adopt Newton Parrish. First Security Bank will adopt Sutton. Old National Bank will adopt Cravens. Independence Bank will adopt Estes. US Bank will adopt Foust. By adopting the schools, the banks will supply volunteers to the schools to read to classes on a regular basis. The financial intuitions will also purchase Little Free Libraries, which are kiosks that hold books at each school. The idea is that when you take a book, you leave a book.
“The biggest thing with these Little Free Libraries is books are available to the community 24/7. You can’t beat the location of the Little Free Libraries either because they are right where the students live,” said Jim Blanton, Daviess County Public Library Director.
In addition to the Little Free Libraries, OPS is working on a project with the Daviess County Public Library that will allow the library to issue an OPS/DCPL Library Card to every student in the district.
The Messenger-Inquirer is supporting the Owensboro Reads Initiative by providing a newspaper for every student once a week at the Owensboro Middle School North and South Campuses.
“Middle school is the perfect time to put a newspaper in a student’s hand. Being literate is about more than just having the ability to read and write. It’s about knowing what’s going on in their community and the world,” said Brake.
