Volunteers Give Boost To Struggling Students Schools Need More Adults Willing To Tutor

A new program to help Spokane’s young readers is struggling to get off the ground in some South Side schools.

The idea behind Spokane School District 81’s tutoring program was to match every struggling student in grades one through three with a volunteer.

Nineteen elementary schools took the district up on its offer when it was introduced this year.

“We sort of envisioned four volunteers per grade level, so 12 per school, that could come in a couple times a week,” said Pat Mainella, district language arts coordinator.

She said educators are finding their goals may have been unrealistic.

“In the schools where they have volunteers, it’s going quite well,” said Mainella. “But some schools are struggling to get the volunteers.”

Six elementary schools, including three South Side schools, have reported a lack of volunteers since the program began this school year. Others say volunteers don’t come as regularly as they’d hoped.

Jefferson, Hamblen and Lincoln Heights elementary schools all have requested more volunteers.

District administrators allocated $100,000 from general funds for books and training. Volunteers attended two training sessions to prepare them to tackle tutoring students reading below grade level.

Mainella said part of the problem may stem from welfare reform, causing would-be tutors to devote more time at work.

As a result, many of the district’s most faithful volunteers are retired residents with a bit of extra time to share.

At Lincoln Heights Elementary, volunteer Shirley Wilson appears like clockwork to volunteer on Mondays and Fridays. The retired special education teacher even sneaks in an occasional Wednesday session.

Twice a week she sits down with Justin, a second-grader, to pore over colorful books and talk about what they’re reading.

Justin jabs at his sliding gold-framed glasses while reading “Mumps” along with Wilson. He says he looks forward to these sessions, when he gets to pick out his own books to read.

Wilson said that, in just three weeks of working with Justin, she’s seen him progress two reading levels.

“He was very, very quiet to start with,” she said. “Now he attacks words with confidence.”

Wilson points to the one-on-one attention as the reason for Justin’s success.

But Lincoln Heights is still hoping for more tutors.

“We have a small cadre of volunteers,” said Lincoln Heights principal Al Fein.

“A couple have been more persistent in arriving than others. As a result, a few students whom we’d like to see in the program aren’t.”

Jefferson’s reading room has been up and running since January. Coordinator Carol Hayes said the school promotes consistency in its volunteer program.

The school tries to match students with the same volunteer every time and to serve the students four or five days a week rather than two or three.

“What we’re encouraging is two to three times a week if the volunteers can,” she said. “Some can. Most can’t.”

Hayes said the school had a few new students who could use the program but not enough volunteers to include them.

“We could use five to 10 more,” she said.

Hamblen Elementary principal Donna Burt said her school’s program “isn’t very well organized yet.” The school is still readying books and looking for tutors, she said.

Volunteers like Wilson say people don’t know what they’re missing.

“It’s a joy to me to be with these children,” she said. “This is what keeps me out of mischief!”

, DataTimes