Creating Mobilized Access to Provide Students More Reading Opportunities
During the 2019-2020 school year, students participated in the planning and construction of the new BISD Book Bus. The Book Bus was a vision from the District’s Read 20 Initiative, which was established in 2016 as Read 2020. The goal of Read 20 is to ensure that BISD students are reading on grade level by the 3rd grade. In addition to investing in new and differentiated literacy classroom materials, BISD has partnered with local businesses and apartment complexes to distribute book boxes throughout the community and launched the Free Read Jamboree. The Read 20 name was given to encourage all students to read at least 20 minutes each day.
The Book Bus will provide children access to books, activities and a variety of programs outside of the school day and all summer. “The goal is to reduce the “summer slide” and give students and families additional quality learning opportunities,” said Michelle Griffith, BISD Instructional Resource Coordinator and Lead Librarian.
The Book Bus committee, made up of 16 Librarians, Administrators and Career & Technical Education Teachers from Welding & Construction, Graphic Design, and Business & Marketing. The committee’s role was to guide the student-led design and construction process.
- Students in business, marketing and graphic design classes created a logo and launched a business and marketing plan.
- Welding and construction students removed the traditional bus seats and are designing, building and installing custom shelving and seating for the interior.
- Fashion Design students are sewing the seat cushions for the seating.
- A district wide art contest was held to gather ideas for the design of the exterior.
- Graphic design students incorporated ideas from student winners across the district into the final exterior design of the bus.
The work of our students came to a halt when the Coronavirus pandemic closed schools for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. Students are excited to resume working on the interior of the bus in the coming school year.
The Brazosport ISD Education Foundation awarded a $25,000 grant for the BISD Book Bus Project. The Foundation’s award will fund programming needs such as books, technology and other literacy activities for students. Brittany Rosenbohm, BISD Education Foundation Executive Director shared that in celebration of The BISD Education Foundation’s 5th birthday, the Board of Directors committed these funds for a district initiative that would impact all students in BISD. The Foundation's mission to enrich and enhance education in BISD is fully encompassed in the Book Bus project.
“The Foundation supports the BISD Read 20 initiative and is excited to contribute to the Book Bus as it will help give all students access to books and literacy programming, not only in the classroom, but at home”, said Mrs. Rosenbohm. She went on to say that “we recognize the importance of strong literacy skills in the overall educational success of a child and we are honored to be a part of bringing the Book Bus to BISD students.”
You can expect to see the “Wheels on the Bus go Round and Round” in January of 2021. It will make stops at community events, campus events, the 2021 BISD Free Read Jamboree and have a regular route for stops throughout our communities during the summer months.