$350,000 Doesn't Go As Far As It Used To

At the PVMS Open House this week, parents were greeted by a request for donations in different houses and classrooms.
Wait....WTF???

We very clearly heard the school district tell us that the building budgets were being increased back to 2008 levels.  According to the most current budget documents, that meant an additional $345,000 over last year!  11 schools dividing that purse means more than an additional $30,000 EACH for supplies over last year.  And we have to hit up parents for "donations"?  C'mon, man!  This is most definitely a "H'ep Me Understand" situation.
We also heard (to a hefty applause from parents) that standardized class supply lists were developed.

Requests for supplies donations were observed
throughout the Open House Night
at Prairie View Middle s School this past Thursday

We guess that not all schools received that memo, because here we are again, having teachers soliciting for supplies including markers, Post-It notes, Elmer's glue, those fan favorites--glue sticks, Scotch tape, and even colored pencils.
Again...WTF?

How were the class supply lists developed?
How much involvement did teachers have?    It would seem that a number of teachers think more supplies are necessary.  Is this just a bunch of teachers gone rogue?   It would seem that this act, done right under the very nose of the principal, that said principal supports said soliciting of "donations".

And why are parents being asked to provide MORE supplies?  Shouldn't these essential elements of the classroom be covered by the General Fund budget?  Or is too much of the General Fund budget ($72,000,000) being used for "other" things and not enough for general supplies ($1,239,507)?

So...we can...

• send Dr. Culver to China for a week
• earmark at least $2,500 to begin a Mandarin Chinese program next year 
• have taxpayer financed pizza lunches
• provide candy bars for staff for after school meetings
• provided bottled water for EVERY staff meeting/training session
• but not have enough money for basic supplies.

All good questions...

School Supplies Issue: Snowballing

Readers write...and the questions continue to mount!

Dear SP-EYE...

PVMS 7^th grade supply list requires that Math students must provide a calculator- I get that, but why do they need AAA batteries?????

Between Math, Science and Social Studies [our child] is required to bring 5 rolls/boxes of scotch tape?????

Very frustrating especially in these economic times – not to mention when we get some of them back at the end of the school year UNUSED!!!!!!!

As Harrison Ford's character (6 Days, 7 Nights) stated, " All good questions..." 

Most of the calculators used in school today are either solar powered, or run off of Lithium ion batteries.  So what ARE the AAA batteries for?  That's a LOT of batteries.  We feel like there's a really, really good joke somewhere in here :)

And that is a LOT of Scotch tape.  Of course, it does take a whole lot more scotch tape to restrain an unruly student than it does Duct tape.  But that's a little inside joke.  And it would raise a tad more eyebrows to require duct tape from students.

On the last issue, we're not sure whether you're supposed to be eternally grateful that extras were returned...or more frustrated that you spent money on something that wasn't used in school and you may not have a use for it. 

Perhaps Dr. Tim could address these issues in his "State of the District" address.  Or his blog...if he ever writes in it again.  In all seriousness, we agree that it's LONG time that this issue gets moved off the back burner.

___________________________________________________________________

Anne Heche:  I’m sorry to interrupt you, but I’m having a bit of a problem.

Harrison Ford: What's the problem? 

Anne Heche:  Some sort of creature has just swum up my pants. I’m guessing--I’m guessing a snake. 

Harrison Ford: Oh. That’s bad. 

Anne Heche: So uhh---what do I do? I mean, I could--reach down--and, and grab it. 

Harrison Ford: That could be risky. It might be poisonous. 

Anne Heche: Well right, but on the other hand, if it bites me, do I want to allow it to continue to swim around in my shorts? 

Harrison Ford: All good questions. 

---Six Days Seven Nights (1998)