Wharton ISD school board, led by Ann Witt, is seeking volunteers to improve first graders’ reading skills at Sivells Elementary. Currently, 13 volunteers, including board members Doris Teague and President Garland Novasad, are participating. Texas Education Agency’s report highlighted below-average third-grade reading scores for Wharton ISD, which dropped further from ’23 to ’24. Witt hopes to recruit 20 volunteers to expand the program to second graders. Volunteers are needed for half-hour morning sessions, three to four times a week.