Read Across America Day in Salinas

Salinas Mayor Joe Gunter helped celebrate reading on Wednesday during “Read Across America Day,” but for Jesse G. Sanchez Elementary, the power of reading can be a lot more than just words on a page.

“Some of these kids are going through some pretty tough times,” said Gunter. “And once in a while they come up with an idea we haven’t thought of and it is brilliant.”

The day is part of a nationwide effort to celebrate reading, but for Gunter and the classroom at Sanchez that sits in the heart of the Salad Bowl, reading is something far more important than just Dr. Seuss books.

“Some of these young people probably have parents that don’t speak English,” said Gunter. “They can look at the bills, look at the due dates and they can understand it.”

The Alisal School District has seen its fair share of literacy struggles. In 2010, it was at a district failing level, according to the superintendent. Today, he says the district is a Title I top performer.

Regardless of the success there are still challenges when it comes to reading.

“The lower socioeconomic students don’t have books in their homes,” said Joanne Collins, a librarian at Alisal High School. “They don’t have magazines and they don’t get a lot of practice in the home.”

In a district where about 80 percent of the students are learning English as a second language, Collins say reading can make all the difference. Especially when students make the jump to high school.

“Reading is important not for just English class, they (students) need it for science, they need it for math, they need it for history,” said Collins. “The more they read the better they will do. Their grades will reflect that.”

For Collins, a librarian for nearly 40 years, the library she helped build reflects one that is about finding the right book for the right student.

“A big part of my job is finding the perfect book so once you find that niche a lot of times they do take off and their reading does improve,” said Collins.