Tuscaloosa City Schools To Roll Out New 'Literacy Bus'

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Tuscaloosa City Board of Education has approved work on a new "literacy bus," which will transform one of its school system's existing school buses into new mobile library.

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TCS said in a press release on Thursday that the literacy bus will feature a wide selection of children's books, comfortable areas for sitting, free wifi, and tablets that children can use to read electronic books or play learning games.

"We are really excited about this bus, to provide resources for families in the community as well as every school in the Tuscaloosa City Schools," said Terri North-Byrts, director of student literacy for Tuscaloosa City Schools. "It's very important that all children are reading, and for them to see reading or literacy as a task, but a skill and that they love to read, because we know that reading takes our children further."

The school system also said any child can board the bus, and parents and guardians are encouraged to visit the bus with their child and read with them.

"This is about community outreach," TCS Superintendent Mike Daria said. "It's not just about our TCS students, but it's the Tuscaloosa community at large."

Additionally, children who are students in Tuscaloosa City Schools will also be able to receive a free book from the literacy bus to take home with them and keep. This will be paid for by a community literacy grant that TCS received.

TCS says the bus will visit community events and have scheduled stops across Tuscaloosa, while also being available for use by organizations such as the United Way of West Alabama

School officials said on Thursday that the bus is scheduled to be finished and operational by the end of this school year.

A schedule of locations will be posted on the Tuscaloosa City Schools website once the bus is ready to enter service.

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