Nonprofit group launches summer reading program for disadvantaged Dist. 303 students

According to studies, having a home stocked with books can greatly boost the academic performance of a child.

Members of STC L.E.A.R.N. (Learning Equality and Resource Network) want to make sure all students have access to books. STC L.E.A.R.N. is a 501c3 nonprofit organization striving to decrease inequality in educational opportunities for Dist. 303 students.

These students are often unable to access educational resources during the summer months because of language barriers, transportation issues, or general financial need. According to Illinois Report Card information, 14.3% of students in the district are low income. The district has an enrollment of 12,236.

From June through August, the group will be delivering five books a month to 75 Dist. 303 students in kindergarten through fifth grade as part of its Summer Book Box program. Heading up the project are retired teachers Dawn Lutz and Pat Stacey.

“We as educators know how important books are and how much we love them,” Lutz said.

Lutz is a retired third grade teacher – she taught at Williamsburg Elementary School in Geneva – and Stacey is a retired Dist. 303 teacher who finished her career as a middle school librarian. They spent hours choosing books and deciding which ones would be best suited for each student.

“We would say, ‘OK, this would be good for a fifth grade boy, this would work good for a third grade girl,’ " Stacey said.

The group started a GoFundMe fundraiser to raise money for the summer reading program and raised $2,320. Stacey said she jumped at the opportunity to work on the summer reading program, having been a teacher and librarian.

“It was great fun to shop for the books,” Stacey said. “I would hope that these kids will enjoy these books as much as we enjoy books. We invest in them, and we’re investing in our future.”

Lutz agreed.

“We love books and we want to share our love of reading,” she said. “My goal as a teacher was always to find the right book for a kid, to get them interested in becoming a lifelong reader.”

The project goes back to the group’s roots. The group’s board members are members of a St. Charles book club, which is where the idea for STC L.E.A.R.N. started.

The members had just read a book about a group of women serving an educational purpose in their community.

STC L.E.A.R.N. is a funding resource that aims to get families what they need. The group has been working with the district’s social workers who identify families that have needs.

The group is focused on securing funding for academic resources such as tutoring, remote learning supervision, at-home learning supplies, desks, chairs, printers and headphones.

“We help them get the funding or get the support they need for education,” said fellow member Peggy McCarthy. “They get referred to us. They let us know what they need and we help fund what they need.”

For more information about STC L.E.A.R.N. and to make a donation, go to the group’s website at stclearn.org. The group also has a Facebook page, facebook.com/STCLEARN.