Falls Elementary School first-grade teacher Kim McDonald, a 23-year-vet, told The Journal this week she figures she spends about $1,000 a year of her own money on everything from storage totes, to pencils to study guides.
That's almost on the spot with teachers across the U.S. who averaged $936 a year on what many say are mostly basic, ordinary school supplies or even health necessities such as Kleenex and disinfectant wipes, according to a recent study by the National Education Association.
“I could go on and on and on,” said McDonald, who buys, borrows or uses various grants for just about everything in her homey classroom. “There's definitely a need. It's never enough what we ask for, like books to accommodate different reading levels. And then we don't want to ask families or students ever (personally), because we know what a hardship it is for them. I never want a child to feel bad for not having something.
“Unfortunately, International Falls is filled with lots of poverty. It's just tough all over. We have a bigger need now more than ever.”
But now I. Falls' teachers should be able to catch a break thanks to the nascent Wishing Willow Program.
It had its informal kickoff Christmas Eve with the now-annual Reindeer Run, which raised $300 for elementary school supplies, said parent and co-organizer Jenn Windels.
Wishing Willow works by collecting specifically requested donations for educational materials – as well as other pragmatic and no-brainer items (more books). It's the brainchild of Independent School District No. 361's Parent Involvement Committee, which just began itself last spring.
“I can tell you we are just really excited to have the Parent Involvement Committee,” McDonald said. “They're really reaching out and making people feel a part of their kid's education. The parents are just going crazy with energy. They also make others feel real welcome.”
So, now parents, community members and organizations have a direct link to students in need and can take some of the financial burden off teachers' notoriously thin wallets, organizers said.
“Our goal is just to support the school in an number of ways,” Windels said. “We know some can't volunteer because of work, or maybe they have no interest it, but this is another way they can very effectively support a school.”
They're not trying plug any major funding holes, she said, just provide some relief and improve their children's education. Schools no longer pay for basic supplies or those materials needed for crafty projects from crafty teachers to get kids intrigued early about various subjects.
“Teachers know these extra supplies are needed, because the kids simply don't bring them for whatever reason,” Windels said. “A lot of times special projects (think paper marche volcano or play costumes) also need different supplies and are important to keep them interested. The teachers don't need to do these things, but they are and bringing their own funds.”
She said what she's really encouraged about is how fast the community has begun to respond without much publicity.
Borderland certainly isn't alone.
With stagnant education budgets, spending cuts and grant red tape up against the desire for a better classroom environment with more learning opportunities, America's elementary school teachers are spending an estimated $3.5 billion annually of their own money, according to the National School Supply & Equipment Association.
Teachers actually have been trying to close these funding gaps for decades, said district Superintendent Nordy Nelson, who began as a teacher 25 years ago.
But apparently the ditch has turned into a chasm.
The problem, he said, is that local operational funding is at a near standstill, referendums are difficult or impossible to pass and meanwhile inflation and fixed costs, like transportation or heating fuel, are always on the rise.
And it's not just teachers kicking in, another study found that janitors, cooks, secretaries and other employees are spending about $250 a year out of pocket on the kids.
McDonald said there are companies, teacher-support groups and nonprofits who help, like Minnesota-based Target, Teachers Pay Teachers and the Falls Education Foundation. She called the latter “a godsend” for its much-appreciated assistance grants.
McDonald goes to garage sales for things like comfy furniture and for some of the literally thousands of books she has in her room. On the door, she even has about a dozen air-sick bags from when she flies. "Teachers love freebies," she said, simply noting that kids get ill. Fast.
Nelson added that the IRS has taken notice, too, and offers a deduction for school-material contributions.
“When school funds fall short for supplies, school staff often use personal funds... or go without,” according to the PIC's December newsletter. “As a community, we can help fill the classrooms with supplies to make learning engaging and fun!”
Wishing Willow is asking teachers for their “lists of non-covered supplies needed to support school functions or special activities.”
"And it's all for the kids," McDonald said. "And we try to make it a nice place to be."
Years ago, the district used to give each teacher several hundred dollars for materials. Then it was $200, then $100, then nothing about three years ago, she said.
Around the same time, she said she's seen more parents get laid off or work part-time and at minimum wage jobs just to make basic ends meet for maybe a family of six, she said.
Often, they don't have anything left over for the basic school supplies that teachers ask their students to bring with them in letters sent out before classes begin in the fall, McDonald said. Not even for pencils or notebooks sometimes, she said. She brings in 1,000 pencils a year "easy," she said.
“What some teachers spend depends on if their husbands know how much their spending,” kidded McDonald. “It's not an inexpensive job. There are a lot of costs. Teachers buy special supplemental materials for text books (which the district still buys) and for professional enrichment (which schools don't cover). And then there are teachers who buy clothes, like hats and coats.”
McDonald said there's a fine line between lending a hand and offending proud families. There's also painful jealousy when students see others come in with top-notch, expensive supplies. It's complicated, she said.
Many other parent-teacher groups are trying to level the field too in grade school by establishing similar efforts as Wishing Willow's all across the country, according to published reports.
These elementary organizations are newer concepts since parents of young students traditionally tend to be less involved directly without the presence of sports, music or academic booster clubs and Parent-Teacher Associations found in secondary schools, experts said.
The Wishing Willow Program works by displaying “trees” at both Falls and West End elementary schools, near the entrances, that have “leaves” on them labeled with requested items from teachers.
“This is a great way to do something special for a teacher, a classroom or the entire school,” according to the PIC.
Eventually, the PIC plans to enable school staff to fill out program “wish lists,” which then will be posted online at its district website, www.isd361.k12.mn.us/districtwide/pic.shtml.
Windels also said they're started taking live Wishing Willow requests on the Parent Involvement Committee's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/372276822809574/?fref=ts.
“One teacher asked for buttons the other day,” said Windels, who's been spearheading Wishing Willow with parent Dixie Kalstad.
Here's what's needed, at the moment:
General supplies
*Glue sticks.
*Tacky glue.
*Dot art/bingo dobbers.
*Glitter.
*Stamp pads.
*Scrapbook paper.
*Eyeballs/pompoms.
*Pencils.
*Erasers.
*Markers.
*Ziplock bags.
*Tag-board.
*Felt.
*Fabric.
*Crayons.
*Colored pencils.
*Magazines.
*Notebooks.
*Hats/mittens/snow pants/jackets.
*Classroom books (new and used).
Falls Elementary School's Katie Anderson
*Colored pencils.
*Hanging file folders.
*Acrylic paints.
*Oil pastels.
*Books.
*Books on tape.
*Pencils.
Falls Elementary School's Heather Sunsvold
* Pine cones.
*Colored pencils.
*Kid scissors.
Falls Elementary School's Shawn Johnson
*Dish soap.
*Velcro.
*Clorox wipes.
Falls Elementary School's Lisa West
*Tacky glue.
*Acrylic paints.
*Large hot glue sticks.
*Wiggle Eyes.
*Modge podge.
*Red and white pipe cleaners.
*Old Scrabble games.
*Windex.
*Keyboard air cleaner.
West End Elementary School office
*Suction hooks (lost and found).
*Colored pencils.
*Disinfectant wipes.
*Napkins.
*Kleenex.
*Glue sticks.
*Paper plates.
*Pencils.
*Push pins.
Falls Elementary School nurse Sue Palm
*Socks (pre-K-6)
*Girls underwear (S, M, L)
*Boys underwear (S, L)
Falls Elementary School's library Gigie Harder
*Kleenex.
Those interested participating in Wishing Willow also can email organizers Kalstad at lakegirl35@gmail.com or Windels at baker_jennifer@yahoo.com.
If people want to donate any items, new or gently used, Windels said they can just drop off a box marked Wishing Willow and whom it's for at the school's front office.
Those interested in joining the PIC, which meets twice monthly, with initiatives such as creating more parent involvement and stopping bullying, can contact Windels or attend a meeting. The schedules and agendas also are on the website.
