As the first few weeks of school get underway, student supply lists in South Florida are sparking conversations, and in some cases, criticisms.
There are the usual requests: pencils, composition notebooks and bookbags. But as school budgets continue to shrink, teachers are also asking parents to supplement basic classroom items like copy paper, permanent markers and disinfectant wipes.
Natavia Davis saw some of these complaints play out on her Facebook feed with parents who have children in South Florida public schools.
“Dry erasers and markers should be provided by schools,” she said. “I understand folders, composition books, but why are parents having to buy things that should be in the school already?”
Davis, whose son started off in public school but is now in a Broward private school, said she especially empathizes with single parents and those who simply don’t have the means to afford what are becoming lengthy lists.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools in a statement said the district knows there are many parents who can't afford to buy school supplies and that the lists are simply requests from teachers.
"We realize that many of our parents face economic constraints; therefore, while providing supplies and other items is encouraged, it is not required nor mandated," according to the statement.
However, when students show up without the necessary supplies needed for class, it can fall on teachers or other parents to fill that void.
Marilyn Keating, a former teacher of 23 years at Cooper City Elementary, said to soften the blow of what can turn into expensive shopping, it sometimes means collective teamwork by parents.
"Some schools are fortunate to have an involved PTA that can help with funding for supplies and that can alleviate some of what parents are asked to contribute," she said.
Vince Rogers, who has a child at Cypress Trails Elementary in Palm Beach County, said he finds the school supply list he received reasonable, but he provided more than what the teacher asked for, buying items in bulk and on Amazon.com.
Parents aren’t the only ones feeling the pinch, said Karla Hernandez Matz, president of United Teachers of Dade.
She said most teachers pay out-of-pocket for supplies. Their expenses can reach up to $1,000 over a year, mostof which is not reimbursed, she said.
“When you think about other professions, it’s ridiculous,” saidMatz. “You wouldn’t ask a doctor to provide medicine for his or her patients. It just shows the lack of importance our government has put on education."
Matz said teachers can apply for a state issued debit card to pay for supplies through a Department of Education program called the Florida Teacher Classroom Supply Assistance Program.
The program issues teachers a debit card for about $200, said Matz and it comes in weeks after school starts-- after most teachers have already purchased the bulk of their supplies.
A national study released earlier this year gave Florida an ‘F’ when it comes to funding for public schools.
The Education Law Center looked at how tax dollars are used in public education throughout the country, and Florida ranked 42nd.
Stacey Casson has four children in Miami-Dade public schools. She says her son in elementary school came home with a list that included six dry erase markers and two reams of copy paper.
She didn’t mind providing the items, but she said, “I think it is sad that parents and teachers have to supplement basic things.”
The Miami-Dade school district acknowledges funding from the state does not cover everything.
"The majority of the funding to schools from the state is earmarked for specific purposes such as Safe Schools, instructional materials, textbooks, and transportation, leaving limited funding for ‘extras’," wrote a spokesperson.
Matz, the teachers’ union president, said some schools have it better than others depending on the socio-economic breakdown of the neighborhood.
“Teachers in more affluent communities tend to get everything they need from parents,” she said. “But on the other end, you have schools in very poor neighborhoods where students don’t come in with the basics they need.”
Below is a supply list from Morningside K-8 Academy in Miami-Dade for a student in kindergarten:
• 5 black and white composition notebooks
• 7 two -pocket folders (plastic folders preferred)
• 4 boxes of 24 Crayola crayons
• 1 pencil pouch (no boxes)
• 36 (#2 pencils) (Ticonderoga brand ~ pre-sharpened preferred)
• 4 pink erasers
• 12 Elmer’s glue sticks
• 3 bottles of 4 oz. Elmer’s glue
• 1 backpack (no rolling backpacks)
• 1 pair of Fiskar blunt-tip child scissors
•1 bottle of Hand Sanitizer (8 oz.)
• 2 packs of baby wipes
• 1 large box of tissues
• 1 box Ziploc bag (gallon size)
•1boxZiploc bag (quart size)
• 1 pack of play dough
• 1 pack of construction paper multicolor
•1 bottleof antibacterial soap
•2 rolls of paper towels
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