ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) – Roanoke City Public Schools held a literacy celebration at Monterey Elementary School Friday, with district leaders emphasizing reading as a cornerstone of student achievement from early childhood through graduation.
Superintendent Dr. Verletta White said the event reflects a broader district commitment to literacy — defined not only as reading, but also writing, listening, and speaking.
“Literacy is the foundation of every other content area,” White said.
She says the district support literacy through family academies, community events an daily classroom instruction at every grade level.
Budget pressures loom over program continuity
White acknowledged the district is facing a budget crunch heading into the next school year and said expansion of current programs is not planned. She said the priority is protecting classroom positions and preserving instructional quality.
“Some things will be compromised, unfortunately,” White said. “But our focus is on protecting our classrooms and preserving as many positions as we can.”
She said teachers and administrators work daily to know students “by name, need, and strength.”
You can learn more about Read Across America Week here
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