Jackson County Chronicle: Jason and Megan Rowekamp were intrigued when they saw another school district in Wisconsin launch a Books on the Bus program.
Designed to foster literacy and assist with sometimes long bus rides, the program seemed like it could be a good fit for the Alma Center-Humbird-Merrillan School District where their children attend and Jason serves as a school board member.
It also came at a time when the Rowekamps were looking for ways to honor their son, Charley, who died during childbirth in 2007. Jason took a year’s worth of school board salary – about $1,200 – and donated to the school district and asked administration if Books on the Bus could begin.
AC-H-M enthusiastically said yes, and students have had books on each of the district’s seven buses since this past winter.
“We thought it would be a good way to make a good impact for the kids – a good way to encourage reading for young children especially,” said Jason, first appointed to the school board in 2012 and has been re-elected twice since. “It’s our hope that it will keep building and (the district) will maintain the program.”