Fay Herron Elementary School library gets a makeover

By Aida Ahmed

Friday, Oct. 21, 2011 | 10:04 p.m.

Fay Herron Elementary School in North Las Vegas faces a number of challenges. Only 24 percent of the 1,200 students are proficient in reading at their grade level, 98.6 percent are second-language students and 100 percent of the students receive free or reduced lunches.

The odds are against the struggling school, which serves Pre-K to fifth grade, and when principal Judy Jordahl arrived in January she said what sat in front of her was a sad situation.

So when she heard about The Heart of America Foundation library makeover program she applied on behalf of the school. And out of hundreds of applications the national organization selected the school in April, making it the foundation’s first makeover in Nevada.

“I was very excited when we saw the opportunity to apply for the grant,” said Jordahl. “We’re just thrilled to have been selected.”

Partnering with Target and Roche Constructors, the organization promised to rebuild the Fay Herron library in six months, providing the school with 2,000 new books. Similar schools in Huntsville, Ala., and New Haven, Conn., have recently received makeovers from the READesign program.

And Friday morning the group revealed the completely redone library at one of the oldest schools in the district.

The foundation, along with hundreds of Target volunteers from across the state, unveiled 10 new computers, a “smartboard,” thousands of books, and 10 iPads. The makeover included a complete renovation of wiring, furniture, a circulation desk, and new carpet, as well as decorative tiles outside of the school and new mural in the courtyard.

Each student received seven books to start their own personal libraries and seven more books were given to siblings that attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Target also announced that it will be partnering with local food bank Three Square to bring a school-based food pantry in November so that parents of children who attend the school can pick up food items every month.

Janice Reardon, vice president of development for The Heart of America Foundation, said the organization strives to address literacy in the U.S. The group plans to complete 42 library makeovers across the country this year with Target. She said the Clark County School District’s commitment to growth and the school’s pledge to have a full-time librarian stuck out in the application process.

“We want to make sure that children have the tools they need in order to succeed,” said Reardon, who added that so far this year Target has donated $22 million to the program. “We know that this is an underserved community.”

“We know not enough of our kids are reading on grade level and that ultimately putting a book in the hands of a child is the first step to actually making that child literate,” said Clark County School District Superintendent Dwight Jones, who attended the event.

Fifth-grader Britney Corona, was chosen as an exemplary student to help cut the ribbon at re-opening ceremony for the new library.

Britney, a 10-year-old, said she was excited to finally have computers at school.

“It’s really cool because there’s a lot of new stuff like 2,000 new books, the smartboard and the new technology,” Britney said. “I think it’s so cool.”

Jordahl says that’s the type of reaction they are hoping to see from all the students.

“It is absolutely critical that we get these children to read more, we need them at grade level,” said Jordahl. “This is a great way to get them excited about reading.”

For more information on the READesgin program and The Heart of America Foundation visit their website.