Picking up the slack for schools

Who pays for the anti-bacterial hand sanitizer students at Cape Girardeau's Central Middle School use? How about those drums that Franklin Elementary students play during music class? Or the swing sets at South Elementary in Jackson?

As local school districts tighten their purse strings, the burden of providing "extras" like field trips, library books and even basic supplies often falls to parent and community organizations.

Through a variety of fund raisers, groups such as the PTA, PTO and booster clubs pick up the slack left by dwindling budgets and also provide rewards in the form of reading parties for students and teacher appreciation gifts.

"Even before the budget cuts there were unfilled needs, but now those needs are bound to be greater," said Lori Schutte, president of the PTO at Jackson Middle School.

The PTO at the middle school has poured around $10,000 this year into an after-school program for students. The group also recently paid for a new digital scroll sign on the exterior of the school.

Being able to provide those items for the school is the rewarding part of PTO, Schutte said.

"It's a great way for parents to stay in touch and in the same effort provide opportunities for students that schools can't."

Booster club assistanceWithout Scott City School District's Booster Club, athletic director Sally O'Brien said the school might not have been able to afford a new rubber floor in the weight room or new mats for the gymnasium.

"Those things don't fit into the budget too well right now," O'Brien said. "But the boosters try to pick things that will benefit all students."

At Central Middle School in Cape Girardeau, PTA president Annette Schabbing said her organization brought in $17,000 in fund raisers this year and helps pay for things as basic as paper and transparency sheets as well as larger items such as playground equipment and SmartBoards, interactive white boards that are connected to computers.

"We always try to help pay for things when the school needs them," Schabbing said. "But there are some things we can't pay for, like a new teacher."

Next year may be especially rough for Cape Girardeau schools. As part of $1.2 million in districtwide budget cuts, each school will lose 10 percent of its annual discretionary budget for supply purchases.

"Everything is going to count next year," said Dr. Barbara Kohlfield, principal at Blanchard Elementary.

Kohlfield said her school's PTA pays for Smart Boards, outdoor benches, field trips and holiday parties.

"They've done tons of things," said Kohlfield. "I'm very thankful for these people, especially during tight budget times."

cclark@semissourian.com

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