School supplies - why not just allow parents to pay a fee?

[Anonymous]

I get super frustrated because my kids will tell me about things they never used, but nothing ever gets sent home. Are teachers selling these things on the black market or something? Is there a secret stockpile of black composition books and flair pens in a bunker under the school?

[Anonymous]

Our kids teachers had them ( whole class) take some school supplies home at end of school year. We can’t really re use school supplies, since school pool the supplies kids turn in and we can’t send in used. I did shop for school supplies once, the different was about $5 cheaper in total but I had to run to different stores for specific brand so I just ordered pre packed box afterwards, but the box doesn’t have everything needed, teachers will ask students to get additional items, and we also get other headphone to replace the one came in box.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get super frustrated because my kids will tell me about things they never used, but nothing ever gets sent home. Are teachers selling these things on the black market or something? Is there a secret stockpile of black composition books and flair pens in a bunker under the school?

No. They are distributing them to kids whose parents cannot afford the supplies.

[Anonymous]

I thought it was a typo when the supply list said 40 glue sticks but I was told that was correct. I am not buying 40 glue sticks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As PPs have said, there is a prepaid option for parents. This really isn't that groundbreaking of a policy. You'll get your opportunity to overpay for prepackaged school supplies next year.

Is the prepaid option at all schools?

No

It’s a PTA fundraiser disguised as a school program. Our ES had it, our MS doesn’t. It takes 5 minutes on Amazon to get the list and it costs a fraction of the price

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As PPs have said, there is a prepaid option for parents. This really isn't that groundbreaking of a policy. You'll get your opportunity to overpay for prepackaged school supplies next year.

Is the prepaid option at all schools?

No

It’s a PTA fundraiser disguised as a school program. Our ES had it, our MS doesn’t. It takes 5 minutes on Amazon to get the list and it costs a fraction of the price

I spent $170 on amazon buying for two kids and still didn't get everything we need to buy. Probably some jacked up amazon costs on random products where it would have been cheaper to go to staples, but once I spent thirty minutes searching and ordering twenty random products, I could not be bothered to redo it on another website. Would have happily just given money.

So much more inefficient for the teachers and school who will get 7 different brand/style versions of roughly the same size folder, etc

[Anonymous]

Walmart has all the school lists on their website. If you type in the school and select the grade you can add everything in your cart and be done with this in les than 5 minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Walmart has all the school lists on their website. If you type in the school and select the grade you can add everything in your cart and be done with this in les than 5 minutes.

Oh that is awesome!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought it was a typo when the supply list said 40 glue sticks but I was told that was correct. I am not buying 40 glue sticks

Your kid will use that many.

Just send in a new pack every 6 to 8 weeks.

I promise that the glue sticks will get used. Trust the experienced parents on this one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As PPs have said, there is a prepaid option for parents. This really isn't that groundbreaking of a policy. You'll get your opportunity to overpay for prepackaged school supplies next year.

Is the prepaid option at all schools?

No

It’s a PTA fundraiser disguised as a school program. Our ES had it, our MS doesn’t. It takes 5 minutes on Amazon to get the list and it costs a fraction of the price

I spent $170 on amazon buying for two kids and still didn't get everything we need to buy. Probably some jacked up amazon costs on random products where it would have been cheaper to go to staples, but once I spent thirty minutes searching and ordering twenty random products, I could not be bothered to redo it on another website. Would have happily just given money.

So much more inefficient for the teachers and school who will get 7 different brand/style versions of roughly the same size folder, etc

Go to Walmart, not staples or amazon if you want to save money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Walmart has all the school lists on their website. If you type in the school and select the grade you can add everything in your cart and be done with this in les than 5 minutes.

And delivered! I got them delivered from Walmart or Target inexpensively for the last two years of elementary school. Ours also had the kit that could be purchased. We did it up to Covid and then stopped after. The supplies were expensive, junky and the teachers always requested more halfway through the year anyway.

They haven’t need much in middle school and beyond. I didn’t even buy anything this year and will make sure to send with a pencil on the first day. A couple of teachers may request specific supplies but they mostly use computers.

[Anonymous]

On the first day of school I give each student a gallon Ziplock bag labeled with their name. Each student puts their extras into that bag and the bags are stored in crates. When a student needs another item, we pull it from their Ziplock bag. At the end of the year, any leftovers get sent home.

As far as glue sticks, we ask for 4 on the supply list.

[Anonymous]

I dunno - I actually find the supplies needed for elementary very reasonable. We’re talking maybe $30 worth of stuff. I also feel like getting the supplies is a ritual and gets kids excited.

Boxes are a rip-off but I guess good option if you don’t feel like shopping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On the first day of school I give each student a gallon Ziplock bag labeled with their name. Each student puts their extras into that bag and the bags are stored in crates. When a student needs another item, we pull it from their Ziplock bag. At the end of the year, any leftovers get sent home.

As far as glue sticks, we ask for 4 on the supply list.

Also a teacher in FCPS and this is what I do except we do end up using most of the glue sticks too. And they use the crayons.

[Anonymous]

At my school they use the pencils. We used to get pleas for donations of more pencils in the spring.