The GOBSmobile is Still Serving Students via Mobile Education

Harrison Public Schools' mobile learning center the GOBSmobile continues serving students, according to Susan Gilley,

Gilley appeared Tuesday on KHOZ's "Around The Table" to discuss the GOBSmobile and more. The mobile center is a repurposed school bus that's equipped with a library, a STEAM center and more. Gilley said it began about three years ago.

It launched into service during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gilley said the repurposed school bus "rolls the streets during the summer on Tuesdays and Thursdays." Later, she revealed that it stops at the Youth Center on those mornings during which some kids board the vehicle.

The GOBSmobile then visits the middle school. The school does a "summer feeding program." On Tuesday it goes to Forrest and the preschool, and it visits Skyline and kindergarten on Thursdays.

Though school is out of session, students wanting to use the GOBSmobile go to these destinations to join in.

She added that Tracy Thomas, who leads the program, usually has activities planned out. One of this month's activity was seed planting.

The seats were removed from the bus; Gilley said the first feature that people see when they board the GOBSmobile is the library. The shelves are from the "old junior high."

Another feature of the bus is a TV area. This equips the bus with video learning. There's also a "reading bench" with pillows.

"On the opposite side of that is a Chromebook bar, so that they can work on their Chromebooks, or iPads or whatever," she said.

When this began, the thought was that Walmart and the mall were ideal high traffic places. However, Gilley said it was discovered that it's not students frequenting those spots but their parents.

More was discussed on the broadcast. The full interview with Gilley is on the "Around The Table" Facebook Page.