Mainstreet Daily News is sharpening pencils, cleaning camera lenses and oiling the printing presses for Newspaper in Education Week of March 2-6.

In the buildup, Senior Editor C.J. Gish and Membership Ambassador Natalie Mitchell received a proclamation Tuesday from Alachua County declaring next week Newspaper in Education Week for the entire county.

Gish told county commissioners that Mainstreet believes in the importance of instilling literacy while also providing free, useful community news.

“We provide the community a good service, and we also want to just continue to be in partnership with the Alachua County Public Schools and just help improve literacy,” Gish said.

Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler said one of the luxuries of being retired is hearing the school bells ring and being able to sip coffee and read the print paper. She said Mainstreet truly reports what’s local.

“I just want to tell you that I agree with everything you said about literacy and having the paper in the schools,” Wheeler said at the meeting. “It’s important for them to be able to have something to hold in their hands besides [electronic devices].”

Mainstreet joined Florida Press Educational Services to help as Alachua County faces literacy rates below the Florida average—with only 51% of third graders hitting the state average in 2023. The literacy situation prompted the start of a four-phase plan with the Children’s Trust of Alachua County, Alachua County Public Schools, Alachua County and Gainesville.

Joining the nearly 100-year-old Newspapers in Education program, weekly print copies of Mainstreet can help students with two of the biggest determinants of future literacy: reading young and reading often.

Thanks to an anonymous donor, Mainstreet will print 1,800 extra copies that will go to classrooms within the Alachua County Public Schools district next week.

Mainstreet already provides weekly copies for children to use, but the March 4 edition will feature a special kids section with educational activities. Using newspapers for reading also encourages students to be engaged citizens, the proclamation said.

Mainstreet print copies are also used by the Gainesville Housing Authority and its junior newspaper carriers, with spares finding purpose as placemats to catch popcorn kernels.

Teachers who participate in Newspaper in Education week will also enter a drawing to win a $100 Publix gift card.

For more information on this program, reach out to our community partnerships manager Janalyn Peppel at janalyn.peppel@mainstreetdailynews.com.