Cancellation of read-in project was news to school officials
Published: Monday, February 6, 2012 at 8:01 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, February 6, 2012 at 8:01 p.m.
Alachua County Public Schools officials were unaware that a popular program had been canceled over what the district said was “miscommunication.”
Altrusa International of Gainesville has canceled its annual Read-In for Literacy for 2012, citing scheduling difficulties.
Marge Baker, chair of the club’s literacy committee, wrote a letter to the editor published in Monday’s Gainesville Sun breaking the news.
“There is much regret among enthusiasts of this project,” Baker wrote, “but the reality in schools today is that time is precious and the primary focus is on student achievement.”
Contacted Monday, Baker said, “I think honestly it’s time (to end the program). There’s a lot of pressure to give every minute to let people achieve and be accountable.”
Altrusa International is a community service organization that focuses on literacy. The local Altrusans have put on the read-in for the past 12 years.
Baker said the event’s purpose was to engage more than 300 community members in reading a book to children in kindergarten through second grade.
Deputy Superintendent Sandy Hollinger said she hoped the two groups could work together to reschedule.
“It’s a great program, and we hope it stays,” she said. “It’s early literacy; it’s fabulous.”
There was miscommunication on the part of the district in scheduling this year’s event, Hollinger said.
“Sometimes we just look at dates, and it’s very possible that we miscommunicated that we couldn’t find a date,” she said.
Altrusa International Gainesville President Mary Jean Davis said the club members met with district staff last month.
“We tried to provide options for them, but it looked like it just would not work for this year,” she said.
The club tries to schedule the read-in for after the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, Davis said, but this year’s tests fall in late April.
“It’s not going to happen this year,” she said. “It takes a lot of time to get it up and going.”
Hollinger said the program is valued in area schools.
“I’m going to go back and talk to Mary Jean to see if they’re interested in doing it for next year, and we’ll have somebody support them all the way through,” Hollinger said.
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