Grant opens three library in Central Unified for the summer

FRESNO, Calif. -- Access to hundreds of books and other educational materials was granted to students at Central Unified on Friday.

Thanks to an $8 thousand grant from Kaiser Permanente Fresno to the Foundation for Central Schools, three school libraries are opening up this summer. The school libraries at McKinley Elementary, Polk Elementary, and Central High East will be open until July 11.

School leaders say it's all about providing opportunities to kids that otherwise wouldn't have them.

"We're the only school district around that doesn't have a county library that's part of the area. So we have to take it upon ourselves to provide those opportunities for kids and to have access because we want our kids to enjoy reading and not experience the summer slide that some students experience," said Mark Sutton, Dist. Supt. Central Unified School District.

The school libraries at Biola-Pershing and Teague Elementary Schools will also be open as a result of Central Unified's partnership with Fresno County Library.