Recently, four separate Lawrence County school districts received funds to implement reading programs in the elementary grades.

Monday, January 10, 2000

Recently, four separate Lawrence County school districts received funds to implement reading programs in the elementary grades. But the influx of $415,000 wouldn’t have happened if it were not for the dedicated teachers and administrators who took the time to locate the funding and apply for it.

Thanks to their diligence, students at Chesapeake, Fairland, Ironton and Rock Hill will benefit from the purchase of reading books, computers and software.

And, hopefully, be better prepared to face the challenges of tomorrow.

The teachers and administrators were not the only ones to make this educational opportunity a reality, however.

The grant program, which gave $60,000 to both Chesapeake and Fairland, $55,000 to Ironton, and $60,000 to each of the four Rock Hill elementaries, would not have been possible without Gov. Robert Taft’s support of the OhioReads program.

Educating the young cannot be done by just one person, it takes a community. And the state legislature and governor’s office is included in that mix, too.

Taft’s OhioReads program is a step in the right direction.

Hopefully, it will continue, and grants will become available to help strengthen the area students’ math and science skills.

Until then, the county educators will continue to educate the young the best way they know how.