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notes from the field

Wilkinson Facility Turns Pallets into Bookcases

Through a project called
“Operation Varnish,”
Wilkinson County Correctional
Facility (WCCF) in Woodville,
Mississippi, is building book-
cases for every classroom in
the Wilkinson County School
District (WCSD). The first 25
will go to William Winans
Middle School (WWMS)
in Centreville, according
to Investigator Michelle
Higginbotham, who coordi-
nated the project.
“We appreciate the part-
nership that we have with
the school district and we’re
excited about this particular
project,” Higginbotham said.
“We believe this will have a
lasting impact on the schools.
As permanent fixtures in the
classrooms, the bookcases will
have value for the teachers and
students for years to come.”
Helping the school district
in this way is one of the facil-
ity’s most ambitious projects Wilkinson County School District (WCSD) officials recently met with the staff of Wilkinson
to date, in terms of community County Correctional Facility (WCCF) to discuss the prison’s donation of bookcases to the
service, according to Warden district. Pictured in the front row, from left, are: Vanessa Lawrence, WCSD coordinator
Scott Middlebrooks. He said of teaching, learning and professional development; Lt. Michelle Higginbotham, WCCF
the facility aims to provide investigator; Tracey Arbuthnot, WCCF Programs Director; and Latoya McPipe, secretary
bookcases and other wood- for William Winans Middle School. Back row, from left, are: Scott Middlebrooks, WCCF
work for each of the schools in warden; Chavis Bradford, WCSD superintendent; Curtis Ross, Winans principal; and
the district. George Castro, WCCF deputy warden of programs.
“If they need something
that’s made of wood, we can
make it,” he said, adding the Combined with a Book Drive WCCF is doing to commemo-
contribution is substantial and The project is being com- rate the 40th anniversary of
will have long-term benefits to bined with a literacy campaign Management & Training
the district. “We’re doing this in which books will be donated Corporation (MTC), the Utah
for the students. We want to to the schools along with the company that manages WCCF.
show that we care about them bookcases, according to Deputy The project is the first of
and our local community.” Warden of Programs George its kind. Its name, Operation
Castro. He said the inclusion of Varnish, was suggested by a
books is one of several things WCCF offender. Its aim is to

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