Seventh grade history teacher Jan Grist usually spends about
$1,200 of her own money on classroom supplies each year for her
Marguerite Maze Middle School students
– and she’s not alone.
Hollister – Seventh grade history teacher Jan Grist usually spends about $1,200 of her own money on classroom supplies each year for her Marguerite Maze Middle School students – and she’s not alone.
In fact, an informal survey conducted by the California Teachers Association revealed that the average California teacher spends between $800 and $2,000 stocking their classrooms, CTA spokeswoman Sandra Jackson said.
Teachers in San Benito County often pay for the supplies from their own pockets or ask parent’s to bring in goods such as tissue paper, pencils, dry-erase markers and pens at the beginning of each year.
A large portion of the money Grist spends each year goes to her annual medieval shield project, where students create their own authentic shields to learn about history during the Middle Ages, she said.
“Of course it’s the teacher’s choice,” Grist said. “But we only get about $2.50 per student each year for supplies.”
That means Grist, who has 165 students, will get $413 for school supplies in a year. Although teachers often have to spend their own money to supplement their classes, such expenses are tax deductible, Jackson said.
Ladd Lane Kindergarten Teacher Michal Cook spends far less than Grist each year, but only because she has built such a large stock of supplies from past years, she said. Cook also asks students’ parents to bring in about $15 worth of supplies at the beginning of each year.
“We have to ask parents for more money because statewide the budget (for schools) is smaller,” Cook said.
Money is not only lacking for classroom supplies, but also for hands-on learning experiences such as field trips, she said.
“Money for school supplies is always an issue, there is never enough money,” Cook said. “Attendance is important, the district loses a lot of money on average daily attendance and that translates into less money for school supplies.”
No matter how much funding a school district brings in, additional money is always needed, San Benito High School Principal Debbie Padilla said.
“We try to provide as much as we can, but there are some supplies that are always needed,” she said. “For example, schools go through Kleenex like water.”
Seeing that classrooms are often short of supplies, local parents have organized fundraisers to supplement them. Gabilan Hills Parent Club President Helen Ford works with dozens of other parents to raise money for school supplies and other expenses. Last year the non-profit group raised $13,000 to help reimburse teachers and purchase much-needed supplies. Two years ago the group raised $17,000, Ford said. The organization doesn’t feel pressure to raise the money, but Ford said they know it needs to be done.
“We bought about $1,000 worth of paper as well as computer programs, books and just about a little of everything,” Ford said. “With all of the budget cuts in the district we want to help out. And one way or another, the parents are going to pay for this stuff.”
Since not every family has additional income to spend on school supplies, Ford said the Gabilan Hills Parent Club attempts to raise money for all students and teachers.
Hollister Superintendent of Schools Ron Crates believes teachers and parents are forced to spend their own money on school supplies because of statewide funding problems. Schools are not getting enough money, he said.
“All quality teachers have special projects or times when they want to supplement the school’s budget, but there are other times they have to spend their own money on basic supplies,” he said. “In my opinion it should never have to happen, most people (in other professions) don’t have to buy the tools required to do their jobs.”
In an effort to help out teachers, parents and students County Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz has created a Business Classroom Sponsorship Program and is requesting local businesses to help share the burden of classroom supply costs. So far only two businesses have made donations of either supplies or money, but De La Cruz said he is hoping for more.
“It’s not a big contribution, but we appreciate what the teachers are doing,” De La Cruz said. “We’re trying to raise as much money as we can and every dollar will go right into the classroom.”
Brett Rowland covers education for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
