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Local parent urges Stoughton schools to expand small-group reading and volunteer tutor program
Summary
During public comment, resident Bob Kluge urged the board to consider a small-group, read-aloud tutoring model and to recruit retired teachers and volunteers, describing a Madison program that organized volunteer orientation evenings and dedicated reading rooms.
Bob Kluge, a Stoughton resident and parent of three graduates, told the Stoughton Area School District Board of Education during public comment that he wants the district to consider recruiting volunteers and retired teachers for small-group reading instruction.
"Our reading program is really bad, and that's so fundamental to education and learning," Kluge said, describing a public-radio report he heard about another state’s reading improvements and a local Madison program that used small groups and one-on-one reading practice. He suggested the district replicate the Madison approach, where volunteers were invited to an evening orientation and assigned to dedicated rooms for reading instruction.
Kluge described his own attempts to volunteer in Stoughton, saying he offered math help to middle-school students but did not receive follow-up from school staff. He recommended the district set up a clearer on-ramp for volunteers, including an event to orient and match volunteers to classrooms or small-group sessions. "I saw the ad in the Madison newspaper... they'd have an evening when they'd invite all their parent all their volunteer tutors to one of their schools," he said, adding that those sessions included refreshments and organized spaces for reading.
Kluge also noted a recent public-radio segment about a Wisconsin school that had improved math outcomes; he suggested district staff research practices other districts have used to boost math performance. He offered his own time as a volunteer and said he would add his contact information to the meeting sign-in sheet.
Why this matters: Board members routinely hear public comments that highlight community priorities; Kluge’s remarks focused on literacy and volunteer engagement, both of which tie to the district’s stated goals on literacy, math and belonging.
Ending: Kluge said he would leave contact information on the sign-in sheet and reiterated his willingness to volunteer for tutoring.
