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Local literacy program seeks $5,000 from Palatka to fund Book Rewards pilot for elementary students
Summary
A local nonprofit proposed a $13,400 pilot to gift $10 certificates to students who meet reading goals; the organizer requested $5,000 from the city and said the Chamber will act as fiscal agent. Commissioners asked about school-district financial buy-in and measurement of outcomes.
An organizer seeking to link literacy incentives to local small‑business support asked the City Commission for $5,000 toward a $13,400 pilot that would give $10 certificates to elementary students who meet school reading goals.
Cowen Amayaboo of Blue Crab Productions described the “Book Rewards” program, a local adaptation of the former Book It model that would reward students who complete reading tasks in participating elementary schools with certificates redeemable at participating local businesses. Amayaboo said organizers are contracting with the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce to act as fiscal agent and projected 1,200 students would complete the reading goals during the pilot period; $10 per student produces the $12,000 reward pool with a small administrative fee to reach the $13,400 total cost.
“Putnam County Chamber of Commerce is going to be our fiscal agent,” Amayaboo told commissioners, adding the pilot would target elementary schools within Palatka and across Putnam County and that organizers would seek county, philanthropic and community foundation funding to cover the remainder.
Several commissioners asked whether the school district would contribute financially or commit staff time; the applicant said district staff had cooperated on identifying reading‑program metrics and would issue a letter of support for three sites but had not agreed to direct financial participation for the pilot year. Commissioners asked how the pilot would be evaluated and how participating businesses would be recruited. The organizer said the program would rely on existing Accelerated Reader (AR) and Read 180 activity data to identify students who met reading goals and that participating local retail and restaurant partners would be recruited through chamber contacts.
Mayor and commissioners suggested the applicant also pursue county funding and recommended the city consider a policy or process for community grant requests; staff said a draft policy would be presented at a future meeting.
Ending: Commissioners did not immediately fund the request; staff said the city will consider the proposal in the context of a pending policy proposal for community funding requests and will return a recommendation after follow‑up with the applicant and county partners.
