Bookcases for Bookworms

First-grade students at Stella Mayfield will be receiving their own bookcase to use at home this winter, courtesy of Bob and Susie Thomas and Dennis Cross of W.C. Construction. 

 Bob Thomas is a retired high school math teacher and Susie is acting librarian at Stella. They have a shared history of promoting literacy in the Elgin School District, and introduced the "Ninety Percent Reading Goal" program to the district, which was adopted on March 8, 2007. Within three years, the number of third grade students at Stella who were reading at third grade level rose from about 50 percent to 88 percent. The district was the first in Union County to employ the program, and it was a huge success.

 Since those initial years, the Thomases have been on an ambitious literacy campaign, locating those in the district who can be signed up for the Dolly Parton free book-a-month program. They also invite parents to the "Read to Succeed" classes at Stella Mayfield, where parents are given free reading tools and games to enjoy and read with their preschool children.  

During the summer months, Bob took their literacy campaign on the road, literally. He put on his derby and rode his Boneshaker bicycle around town, turning heads and book pages as he peddled the "Read to Succeed" program to Elgin families.  

Bob and Susie's newest reading campaign is called "Bookcases for Bookworms."  

"Susie and I want to spread the joy of reading by building and providing bookcases for first graders at Stella Mayfield Elementary," said Bob. 

It's an innovative idea borrowed from a magazine article that Susie brought home to show Bob. It was about a group of volunteers in Arkansas who started their own literacy project, "A Bookcase for Every Child." It met with big success there, so the Thomases discussed if and how they could pull it off in their school district.  

"Should we? Can we?" Bob asked. "I can build a bookcase, I guess, but how would we pay for the materials for 30-40 bookcases and give one to each first grader? I guess we could pay for it ourselves." 

Bob started by building six prototype bookcases. He received some building pointers from cabinet maker Bob Swalberg of Elgin.

Then he calculated the cost of materials, including a brass name plate with the student's name on it made by the Winner's Circle of La Grande.   

The costs came to $700.11 for 30 bookcases. It was then that Bob went to talk to Dennis Cross at W.C. Construction about their "Bookcases for Bookworms" project.

"I went there to get him to understand what we wanted to do," said Bob. "I told him that Susie and I are willing to pay for it, but if they would like to help, they could go halfway with us on the cost." 

Bob said Cross was agreeable to a halfway split on the costs. "Dennis told me, 'We'll pay the $700, and you pay the 11 cents.'" 

With this generous support, Bob the retired math teacher became "Bob the bookcase builder" at his home workshop this winter. 

"I could not have done this two years ago," said Bob. "I wasn't retired then. I wondered when I did retire, what am I supposed to do? Now I know." 

Bob used the donated money to buy pine lumber, nails, and stain from Miller's Home Center and Lumber of La Grande and Bronson Lumber Company in Island City, he said.  

It takes parts of three days to make one bookcase, and so far he has made five deliveries of bookcases to Stella's first grade classes. 

"Every Tuesday, I deliver a bookcase to the first grade classroom," said Bob.  "I love to see the excitement in the children's eyes as they wonder who will get the next one."

Bob asks first grade teachers, Nondas Christenson and Theresa Butts, for the name of the student who should receive the next bookcase. 

"They recommend children who love to read and are reading at or above grade level as well as children who are trying their best to learn how to read better," said Bob. "We hope this will encourage the reluctant reader to try harder."

 In addition, each child is given a book to add to their (home) library.  The books are purchased through a grant from Soroptimist International of La Grande.

"I think its a great idea," said Christenson, "and especially because it encourages the kids to read and work hard on their reading."

Last week, first grade student Ashlee Burtch, the daughter of Jamie Weirauch of Elgin and Kellee Miller of La Grande, was the happy recipient of a bookcase. 

"I liked it," she said. "It was pretty cool, and I like how my name is carved in there in metal. I put the bookcase in my room and put my books on it."

Each bookcase has been marked on its back side with the name of W.C. Construction and the Thomases. 

"We love the children and want to do anything we can to encourage children and parents to read together," said Bob. "The most important thing children learn in school is the ability to read well."