As the sluggish economy drags on, teachers are providing more to their students than just knowledge.
A national study released this month found that nationwide, teachers spent an average of $356 of their own money each year on supplies and instructional materials for their classrooms — over and above the money parents spend each year for their children”s own supplies.
However, teachers in the Golden Triangle dealing with steep cuts to Mississippi”s education budget are getting by with less. A quick poll revealed local teachers spent approximately $200 out-of-pocket each year.
State funding declines
The 2010 National School Supply Equipment Association Retail Market Awareness Study, released in recent weeks, found that school teachers around the country spend a total of $1.33 billion out of pocket for classroom materials — but the amount teachers are spending is down. According to the survey, teachers spent, on average, $395 in a 2007-2008 study and $552 in a 2005-2006.
Local teachers said they are keeping their spending in line with previous years — and some were quick to point out the money they spend is generally not for necessities.
“It”s just easier sometimes to buy things,” said Terry Wiygul, who teaches science at Caledonia High School. “When we do parachutes (with homemade rockets), I buy the eggs. What, am I going to write a purchase order for a dozen eggs?”
In her 15 years in the Lowndes County School District, Wiygul says she”s never had a problem getting funding for materials she needs as long as she provides documentation explaining why she needs an item and where to buy it.
Of course, not everything requires a purchase order. Wiygul collects a $10 lab fee from all of her students, but every public school teacher in the state receives Educational Enhancement Funds for supplies.
EEF money is awarded to every district, but the amount each teacher receives varies from district to district. Teachers received $189 in EEF in 2009 at Columbus and West Point schools, while the Starkville School District supplemented approximately $45 in EEF with $350 in district funds to cover supplies. And, state EEF funding has been steadily dropping over past years. For example, in Columbus, the $189 per-teacher allocation was $300 in the 2005-06 school year.
Unlike purchase orders for big-ticket items, EEF is spent at the teacher”s discretion. The only stipulation is that the money must be spent on classroom materials.
Sharon Fondren, a second grade teacher at Franklin Elementary Medical Science and Wellness Magnet School in Columbus, has used EEF to buy everything from educational games to ink cartridges for printers. She spends her own money on fun items like name tags for students desks or treats. Occasionally, she does buy office supplies on her own.
Parents also spend
Parents are responsible for their child”s personal supplies, but teachers may ask parents to send classroom items such as tissues or paper towels in with their children at the beginning of each year or semester.
Michelle Armstrong, a pre-kindergarten teacher at Catherine Bryan Preschool in West Point, says her students” parents are good about sending in supplies, but she”ll commonly grab items like Play-Doh for her students while she”s at the store just as a matter of convenience.
Several more resources are available for teachers in need of supplies. The Junior Auxiliary regularly donates uniforms and supplies in some districts and Parent Teacher Associations will hold fundraisers to buy supplies. Fondren received a mini-grant from Mississippi University for Women to provide digital cameras for a class activity and Wiygul has also found resources at MUW.
Elizabeth Ann-Brown, a high school English teacher at Immanuel Center for Christian Education, says her school received a donation of science equipment when Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn., tore down a science hall.
Brown estimates she also spends around $200 of her own money each year on her students despite receiving no supply money from the school.
“People think that because we”re a private school and students pay to attend here, we”re rolling in money. We”re really not,” she said.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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