SIMMS, Mont. — Simms students are putting their School Resource Officer to the test with the Pages
for Power Reading Challenge, a school-wide competition that will end with a live bench-press event on
November 25th at 1:00 p.m. in the Simms Gym.
From November 1–24, students in grades 6–12 tracked how many pages they read during school study
hall. Their totals will determine how much weight and how many reps Cascade County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Andre Lugo must lift in front of the entire school.
“The students love Deputy Lugo, and when they found out their reading totals could determine how
much weight he has to lift… they lit up,” Principal Luke McKinley said. “They’re ready to push him to
his limit.”
Deputy Lugo says he’s prepared for whatever they send his way.
“I told the students if they read big, I’ll lift big,” Lugo said. “If this challenge gets them reading more
and shows them I’m here to support them, then load the bar. I’m ready.”
Reading goals are set at 1,200 pages per grade for middle school and 2,200 pages for high school.
Exceeding those goals increases the weight or reps Lugo will perform. Students are tracking progress
daily, with hallway displays and classroom updates helping build momentum.
Sheriff Jesse Slaughter said the challenge reflects the kind of positive engagement his office values.
“Deputy Lugo is doing this because he cares about these kids,” Slaughter said. “If a bench press
challenge gets them reading more and gives them a positive experience with law enforcement, we’re
behind it 100 percent.”
