By Daily Press staff
Budget cuts have hit the John Muir Elementary School Library hard but the Santa Monica Republican Women Federated is helping to ease the pain.
The school used to have $28 per student to spend on acquiring new books, but now has only $1.41 per student. In March, members of the Federated, including Heather Peters, candidate for the 41st Assembly District, which includes Santa Monica, presented Principal Martha Duran-Contreras with 270 books and $375 to buy even more.
Students from Ms. Carol Hinshaw’s first and second grade class and from Mr. Joseph’s third grade class thanked the women by singing “The World is a Rainbow,” a song they learned to celebrate Black History Month, and Matthew Zarchen, a first grade student, read a poem he had written.
Some of the books will be placed in the main library, and others will go into classroom libraries and be given as gifts to students who might not be able to afford to buy them. John Muir is a federally funded school and about 180 students, or 50 percent, are living below the poverty line.
The monetary donation made by the Federated will be matched by John Muir’s PTA, allowing the school to subscribe to all levels of the Junior Library Guild, a program that provides critically acclaimed children’s books hot off the presses directly to schools in need. Those who would like to contribute can send donations to John Muir Elementary School or drop off books appropriate for grades kindergarten though eighth grade at 2526 Sixth St.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 17, 2004. Read the original PDF.