The secret is out: Woodside Reads making a difference

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Neighbors | Submitted.Woodside Reads volunteers (front row) Linda Sarver, Evelyn Roth, Pat Mancino, Sandra Schrode, Muriel Baranick, (back row) Coordinator Kathy Kane, Sam Fasline, Rich Murray, Gary Reel, Errol Dietrich, Frank Santisi, Michelle Grazier and Diane Koch help an average of 40 students a week become better readers.  Missing: Ed Conroy, Dave Schnurrenberger and Pam Lillo.

One of the best-kept secrets in Austintown has been making reading a priority for more than 10 years in the school district and community.

A program called Woodside Reads has been instrumental in teaching the school’s second and third-graders solid reading skills. Volunteers dedicate one to two hours each Wednesday morning to work one-on-one with Woodside students. Some need help with the reading portion of books, some with comprehension and pronunciation, and others just need a caring adult to work with them

“Woodside Reads is probably the best-kept secret in Austintown,” claims its coordinator, Kathy Kane, a 10-year veteran in this position. “Our volunteers are so dedicated and dependable — they do most of the work for me.”

The program began in 2000 as part of a state program called Ohio Reads. Woodside Reads has survived despite being unfunded by the state and lack of funds in the school district.

The success has been made possible because of the generosity of the Rotary Club of Austintown, which underwrites the program.

The school provides space in auxiliary trailers and the teachers cooperate with Kane to service an average of 40 students a week, each having 30 minutes with a tutor.

“I try to keep it fun for both the students and mentors and both come willingly and look forward to the next time together,” said Kane, a long-time Lowellville teacher.

Woodside school moved from continuous improvement status to excellent in the last state report card — a huge leap. Principal Tim Kelty attributed this milestone to many components, but added that Woodside Reads is certainly a part of the success story.

Rotary President Deanna Spirko is among the past and present Rotary leaders who have continued to fund this program, earning a Rotary District Literacy Award for this project and others last year.

“We also give a dictionary to every public and parochial third-grader in Austintown and Jackson-Milton each year since 2000,” Spirko said. “We give a library book each week to the Woodside school library in honor of our Rotary speakers. We have enjoyed our partnership with Woodside school,” said Spirko.