Opelika council helps kick off reading initiative

The Opelika City Council helped officially kick off the Opelika Reads 2010 and Beyond Initiative at its council meeting Tuesday night with the reading of a proclamation by Mayor Gary Fuller.

Several members of Community Action Support Team and the community were on hand for the reading of the proclamation.
The mission of C.A.S.T., formed in 2009, is to raise awareness of the importance of early literacy through measures such as book drives and the formation of a reading activities calendar.

As part of the kick-off, the city council also approved a resolution appropriating $5,000 that will come from the council’s discretionary fund to support the initiative.

When it comes to fostering a love of learning through reading, Fuller said it is going to take a long-term commitment on the part of parents, educators and community members. › Continue reading

Opelika Initiative hopes to foster love of books in children

When it comes to charting a positive future for Opelika, it’s as simple as the turning of a page for one community group.

The page of a book, that is.

The Community Action Support Team (C.A.S.T.) met for its pre-kickoff orientation meeting of the Opelika Reads 2010 and Beyond Initiative at Southview Primary School on Monday.

The goal of C.A.S.T., formed in the summer of 2009, is to get the community involved in the education of its students, said Steven Carson, director of alternative education and student services for Opelika City Schools. › Continue reading