From the Harford County Education Association:
Not only are parents hitting the stores now for back-to-school shopping, but Harford County teachers are too. Most supplies and materials are purchased at the teacher’s own expense. Every year, teachers shell out lots of their own hard-earned money to buy school supplies and instructional materials for their students.
According to a report by the National School Supply and Equipment Association, public school teachers in the U.S. spent $1.33 billion purchasing supplies for their classrooms in 2010. A survey by the NSSEA also found that teachers pay for approximately 77% of their classroom supplies. HCEA approximates that teachers spend between $350-$450 dollars each year out of their own pocket on classroom supplies. And, it’s even higher when you are just starting out as a new teacher. In addition, county budget cuts have forced teachers to spend more and more of their own money on supplies each year.
Since 2009, the Harford County Education Association has been organizing & holding the New Teacher Survival Store during the HCPS New Teacher Orientation. HCEA is partnering with businesses and individuals to obtain monetary donations, materials and supplies to help minimize the substantial cost incurred to new teachers just starting out in their career. Each year Harford County Public Schools hires approximately 150-200 new teachers just starting out in their teaching career. The school system provides new teachers with curriculum and space but a very limited supply budget. By partnering with local businesses and individuals, HCEA provides teaching materials and supplies to help these new teachers set up and decorate their classrooms and have the necessary supplies needed to educate our children at a lower impact cost to their own personal pocket. Harford County Education Association is currently seeking donations for their New Teachers’ Survival Store. The store will take place on August 18th at Bel Air High School at the end of the New Teacher Orientation.
Monetary donations, materials and supplies can be mailed or dropped off to HCEA, 42 N. Main Street, Bel Air, MD 21014.
Every year the board of ed increases its budget bite of the entire county budget. Where does that extra go? Apparently not for teacher salaries. How about the school system pay for supplies like it’s supposed to and that would give all the teachers a raise.
Actually the BoE is taking less every year by percentage. However, I agree that our teachers, myself included should be provided the all supplies they need to be successful. While I don’t think raises are in our near future it sure would be nice if the BoE would honor its negotiated agreement and salary scale, ending this ridiculous and unwarranted pay freeze.
This is just plain stupid. Teachers need supples. The school needs to buy them and pay for them. At least the supplies that are reasonable in the mind of the employer. If teachers want something more then, okay, buy them yourselves. If I worked for roofing company would they expect me to buy the shingles?
If the school administration can’t get sufficient supplies and textbooks to the classroom on time then the next step is clear. Why not? Who is at fault? Go work somewhere else. Can anyone spell accountability? Ryan Burbey and I don’t agree on much but we agree on this.
Maybe they could take some of the money the new principal is spending at Joppa High to paint and re-decorate when it doesn’t need it (and, yes, overtime labor) and buy supplies. Just a thought.