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Instructional highlight: MIS reading initiative and business partnerships boost circulation and student engagement
Summary
Mooresville Intermediate School's reading campaign, presented to the board, paired each classroom with local business partners, staged a one-school/one-book campaign and culminated in schoolwide events; staff reported circulation rising from 13,807 to nearly 19,000 checkouts year-to-date and improved student attitudes about reading.
Mooresville Intermediate School leaders presented the board with an instructional highlight on an independent-reading initiative that paired every classroom with a local business partner to increase student motivation and reading volume.
Dr. Jamie Abercrombie and the MIS team described a program built around access, relevance and choice: classrooms were matched with businesses that visited regularly, students participated in schoolwide reading challenges (including a one-school/one-book selection and a culminating staff-vs-students basketball event), and families were engaged through take-home challenges. Business partners such as Jaeger Snowman and Crafts provided in-class activities, art kits and project support; the partners said working with students inspired them to expand youth opportunities in their shops.
Staff provided circulation figures showing 13,807 books checked out in the 2023-24 school year through March, compared with nearly 19,000 checkouts this year through March, an increase of roughly 4,000'5,000 checkouts year-over-year. Presenters said student survey results also showed a jump in the share of students who agree that "my community cares about my reading," from about 45% at the start of the year to approximately 78% in the latest check-in. Board members and the public praised the partnerships and asked operational questions; staff invited board members to visit classrooms to observe the program in action.
Presenters noted that the initiative emphasizes choice and supports teachers with PLC planning, and that the district has sustained the program with quarterly events, community volunteers and staff engagement. The board received the instructional highlight and thanked staff and community partners for programmatic gains.
