For example, one supply list in affluent west Cobb requires "2 black Sharpie fine point markers" as well as "2 black extra fine point Sharpie markers" as needed supplies for third graders. Let's see. That's 88 Sharpie markers for the teacher, assuming 22 students. That's 440 Sharpies for the entire third grade.
Third grade teachers also want "2 packs of 24 number two pencils." What kid needs so many pencils?
But again, assuming it's for the teachers, that's 1,056 pencils collected per class. Or 5,280 pencils collected for the entire third grade.
Is our school supplying other, "less fortunate" schools perhaps, parents wonder?
Parents are asked to send ten glue sticks and Expo markers, no number suggested. Since the Expo markers are used on the dry erase boards, parents are pretty certain these, at least, are for the teachers. Some don't mind and look at it the way they do when asked to supply Kleenex, hand sanitizer and other incidentals.
But others believe if we are now supplying teachers, it would be nice if they were up front about it.
What's happening at your school? Are you afraid to ask questions about the lists?
And for those who read my Sunday column mentioning the banner-crazy CCSD transportation department, I laughed out loud yesterday leaving a store on Dallas Highway near the Avenue West Cobb. For parked in a bank parking lot, barely visible in all the highway chaos, was a large banner affixed to a CCSD special ed bus, informing (mostly Paulding county commuters, I'd say) that bus routes are available on line.
Number one, I wonder how much taxpayer money went to erect these makeshift billboards? Were banner makers able to bid on them?
Not only that, Mr. Grisham or Ms. Lite (assistant), I would offer you some advice: To optimize your message, try putting the banners where parents will see them, like at neighborhood "nodes" nearer the schools. This was a cute idea, but per Advertising 101, if your target audience doesn't see the message, it's a complete waste of your PR dollars.
We anxiously await the next bus banner communication from your department, and good luck on hiring those drivers you advertised for in the Lassiter High newsletter. I still don't understand in this economy (and after you just fired so many drivers) why your HR needs are still not met.
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Please go back to school and learn how to spell and punctuate correctly, or use the spell check function on your word processor before you post your thoughts. PS- Thanks for the great job all you teachers do.
SPLOST was presented to the taxpayers as an additional tax for new aqusitions and projects and since Cobb buses have never been air conditioned I would consider that a new project.
As far as using SPLOST for school supplies, it seems to me that the board uses said monies as they wish when it fits their agenda.
They can't do that. It's illegal. Turf money comes from SPLOST dollars the voters already obligated for turf... nothing else.
PERHAPS I SHOULD'VE PUT THAT IN CAPS FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND BETTER. GOOD LUCK ANYWAY!
TWO MORE FIELDS MINUS ASTRO TURF WOULD PURCHASE AC EQUIPMENT FOR ALL BUSES AND ONE LESS COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT CONTRACT WOULD HAVE PAID FOR THE LABOR TO INSTALL.
SIMPLE MATH COBB SCHOOL BOARD TRY IT....IT WORKS!
Add to that the $100/child donation to the foundation. The Boosterthon. The many teacher gifts. The request two times within the year to replinish the supplies. Field trips - Performance Arts Series fees. They nickle and dime tuition out of you. I'm glad I'm no longer a part of the waste game.
When I moved to Georgia, I was basically told to buy it myself or ask parents. I always had students bring in their personal supplies (ie pencils, binders, etc) and then asked for communal donations for things like Kleenex, wipes and so on. Of course, the taxes paid here are about 1/4 of what we paid in NY, so..........connect the dots, people!
Also, regarding the lysol wipes - if parents would actually keep sick children at home - maybe teachers would not need to use them so much. I'd rather have a teacher who cleaned up and tried to prevent sickness than keep a messy unsanitary room.
Classrooms (especially intermediate elementary) go through pencils like you wouldn't believe. There are 36 weeks in the school year. If you buy 48 pencils for your child - that's a little more than one a week. And that's assuming the child doesn't break, chew on, pull the eraser off, take it home, or lose it.
And for the expo markers - I know that my child uses those frequently. They have small boards in the classroom that students write on during math and spelling practice. 10 glue sticks is ridiculous. Plenty of things on those lists are, but the truth of the matter is that most teachers don't get any money to buy supplies for the classroom.
And as far as middle/high versus elementary - of course they have less supplies! Think about how the curriculum changes! And a 13 year old is much more capable of managing belongings (i'd hope) than a 5 year old. It's a developmental thing.
Think - before you judge and blame.
In regards to the supplies, we ARE supplying others, though often in the same class. I wouldn't mind that so much if I knew my child were able to keep his supplies and I had the opportunity to add additional items. It was interesting when he chose some specific items that were then given to a child (who had been bullying him) to use... an example of what NOT to do, give a bully additional ammunition!
Believe it or not, drivers don't always receive the same route every year and if they do, the routes can vary from year to year.