Grant allows Godfrey-Lee schools to ‘invest in kids’, put books in their hands

Modern computers in the Godfrey-Lee Public School’s Early Childhood Center, but quality, modern books are just as important. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

While there are rows of modern computers in the Godfrey-Lee Public School’s Early Childhood Center, a recent event celebrated an older means of early childhood education that is always of great value — putting quality, modern books in the hands of young readers, both in school and to take home.

Godfrey-Lee Public School Board of Education member Dave Blok reads with a student at the event. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

At what was billed as “a celebration of literacy” April 24, at the Early Childhood Center in Wyoming, district Superintendent Kevin Polston detailed how the district gained $30,000 in grant funds to purchase books as he addressed a group of invited guests and staff, a discussion followed the group joining some of the young users of the new books for a little reading time.

“Literacy is important across the board, whether we are talking about it in the traditional sense — writing, speaking, listening — or technology literacy,” Polsten said to WKTV. “In the media center, this is hub of our school. It serves as ways to access information, whether is it via a computer or via a traditional, tangible book.

“You just really can’t replace putting a book in a kid’s hands,” Polston continued. “There is something special about touching, feeling, seeing the pictures, and engaging with the book. We know there is value to that.”

Dorothy VanderJagt, High Impact Leadership (H.I.L.) Grant program coordinator, reads with a student. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

Last year Godfrey-Lee was accepted into the High Impact Leadership (H.I.L.) Grant program facilitated by Western Michigan University in partnership with the Reading Now Network, according to supplied information. One of the recommendations for improving literacy was to increase the amount of books students have access to in classrooms and media centers.

Upon learning of this recommendation, The Guido A. and Elizabeth H. Binda Foundation issued a $30,000 challenge grant to Godfrey-Lee to assist in making progress on the recommendation.

“Generous individual donors matched the $15,000 Binda gift to meet the $30,000 goal in just a few short months,” Polston said.

At the recent event, it was explained that the books purchase were mostly non-fiction, because it is important to keep up-to-date information in the students hands, and that they were high quality books which would last longer than the 1-to–2 year lifespan of more “mass-market” books — the district actually made the conscience decision to buy fewer books of higher quality than they could have bought of lesser quality books.

And that decision was wholeheartedly supported by one visitor, longtime local educator Dr. Vern Boss, who with his wife, Norma, and family were honored guests at the event.

Dr. Vern Boss, who with his wife, Norma, and family were honored guests at the event, reads with a student. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

Boss, who was a former superintendent at Grandville Public Schools and Kent ISD, said to WKTV that the educational value of books has not changed over the years and “it is so much better if you can maintain a quality book.”

The Binda gift was actually given in honor of Boss, Polston said. The matching funds were from an anonymous donor or donors.

The books will be shelved not only in the Early Childhood Center but also in the district’s Godfrey elementary school — reaching not only a large community of low income and minority children not only in need of the tools of learning but deserving the tools.

“Our kids deserve the best,” Polston said to the audience at one point. “… it is about investing in our kids.”

For a video of the event produced by Lee High School students, visit here.