Pearl River Central High School will use grant funding to establish a special education library at the school’s resource room.

Pearl River Central High School Student Support Coordinator Morgan Cruse said the resource room is a safe space for children with special needs where they can access everything they need on a daily.

The proposed library will contain books and magazines for high functioning special education students. These students attend regular classes with some extra help from teachers.

The $2,600 grant was donated by Picayune Kiwanis Club, Cruse said. The high school’s student run Key Club plans to utilize the grant to purchase 100 books for the library,

Cruse said that since children with special needs may have lower than average reading levels, the new library will establish a collection of books and magazines focused on subjects the students would be interested in, such as hunting and teenager magazines.

“The goal is to make them want to read for fun as they also need books that they can read successfully and be proud of,” Cruse said.

Cruise said she is delighted to receive the grant from the Kiwanis Club because it will provide a way for students at the school to excel.

The school has already received the funds but is waiting on School Board approval to establish the library. She hopes to be able to have it complete by sometime in January.