School supply lists for next school year have been approved, and like last year, they will be consistent for each grade level across the Putnam County Schools.
The change was initially made before last school year. Putnam Schools Elementary Educational Supervisor Diana Wood said the change made things easier for parents while forcing the district to decide what supplies were really needed. Wood said principals had a role in preparing this year’s list.
“At that level, the principals went to the teachers and they just gave us feedback,” Wood said. “They said, ‘We don’t need that, we should’ve had this.’ And honestly, we ended up not adding anything. We just took some things away.”
Wood said the supply list cuts were made to ensure students have exactly what is needed. Wood said there are resources available for any extra supplies if a need arises during the school year.
Wood said some of the items removed from the supply list were taken off because they are not necessary for students. For instance, a teacher may only need one set of dry erase markers for the entire classroom, so students do not need their own set.
Wood said some items, such as crayons, were removed because the schools already had plenty.
“We’ve paired [the supply list] down even further to where we’re in a situation where we feel like we’ve got the basics of what kids need when they get to school,” Wood said.
Wood said she understands some families have difficulty affording supplies every year. Wood said students will have what they need when school starts, regardless of a family’s ability to provide supplies.
“If parents are unable to buy supplies, we are able to help out with that at the school level,” Wood said. “We have lots of community organizations and churches who are very generous with our schools. We don’t ever want parents to feel like it’s stretching them.”
School supply lists are available at the school websites, county website, and at stores that sell school supplies.
