Rising cost of school supplies felt among Butler County parents and teachers
Back-to-school shopping often means more than buying new clothes and a backpack. For teachers and parents, classroom supplies have become a list that totals significant expense.
Each school year, teachers typically send out a supply list to the parents of each of their students. Many of the supplies are for the individual student; however, teachers often choose to include an optional list of supplies for general use.
Michelle Rogozinski, a sixth-grade teacher at Haine Middle School in Cranberry Township, said as a teacher, she tries to meet parents halfway. Rogozinski is also a parent to three school-aged children, which she said has helped her to see the other side of the supply list.
“I have three kids in school in a different district, and their supply lists are lengthy and, in my opinion, a lot,” Rogozinski said.
She also said that oftentimes many of the required supplies go unused.
“At the end of the year, folders go unused, notebooks are blank and parents are frustrated because we’re thinking, ‘Why not just take those items off the list?’” Rogozinski said.
Rogozinski’s perspective as a parent has inspired her to be mindful of what she puts on her supply lists.
As for general classroom supplies, even though they are optional, Rogozinski said she often feels pressured to buy them.
Jennifer Exler, a fifth- and sixth-grade teacher at Haine Middle School, said she provides her students with everything they need for her class.
“They’ve already had to buy enough for main classrooms, so I just provide,” Exler said.
When it comes to paying for school supplies, Exler said she believes Seneca Valley is a good district.
“I think we are a lucky district,” Exler said. “We have a general amount of money each year, so I always make sure we have a classroom set of crayons, markers, pencils, scissors, lined paper, graph paper, and the school provides all of that.”
Exler mentioned that other school districts are not as lucky. She said in some districts, teachers have to buy their own printer paper.
Working at Seneca Valley, the teachers are fortunate because they share everything, Exler said.
“If I run out of something, I know I can go to 10 other people,” Exler said.
Though the cost of school supplies is increasing, Rogozinski and Exler said their budgets have remained the same. According to Exler, each teacher receives $250 to spend on classroom supplies and materials. However, Exler said they get additional funding from the Parent Teacher Organization.
“The nice thing is, the PTO will also give us an additional stipend to use that is from their own organization,” Exler said. “So in addition to the $250, we have whatever amount they give us, which changes each year.”
For districts that don’t provide such stipends, the situation is harder for parents. The Butler YMCA assists by giving out school supplies.
Backpacks, which seem to be included on every district’s list, were given away for free last week to families who showed up for an event Thursday.
A backpack, lunch box and water bottle alone for a child comes in at about $50. Add in folders, notepads, pencils and shared supplies like tissues and cleaning wipes, and the cost balloons.
Not everyone makes it to events like that one held recently at the YMCA. Parents, such as Rogozinski, say the cost is too high for families to manage well. Rogozinski said she’s already spent $150 on her children’s school supplies this year, and she is worried a lot of them will come back unused or broken.
“I want to put it on someone’s radar that something has to change here.”
