A local nonprofit group wants to ensure teachers in the Morgan
Hill Unified School District have the supplies they need when
school starts this fall.
A local nonprofit group wants to ensure teachers in the Morgan Hill Unified School District have the supplies they need when school starts this fall.
The Teachers’ Aid Coalition has began gathering supplies to help educators have the equipment they need without opening their own wallets.
Each school site in the district has a budget for supplies, but over the years, as funding for education has dropped, so have site budgets. In addition, teachers can no longer receive a tax credit for supplies they purchase themselves.
Teachers at every level in every school in the district spend more money on supplies than what is budgeted, often making up the difference with their own money. Parents frequently helped out, as teachers request donations of tissues and other supplies, and Home & School clubs raise money to help as well.
The Teacher’s Aid Coalition is asking for donations from the community, from individuals and businesses, to stock its warehouse for teachers. Teachers will be invited to come “shop” in the warehouse as TAC begins distributing supplies Oct. 21.
The most common items needed include photocopy paper, writing materials, felt pens, folders and tissues. Cash donations are also welcome and will be used by the coalition to purchase supplies.
Donations will be accepted during normal business hours at the office of Jon Hatakeyama, a local dentist and founder of the coalition, at 370 W. Dunne Ave., Suite 3.
TAC was organized in October 2001. Hatakeyama said the idea for TAC came after learning local teachers needed supplies. He based the project on Teacher’s Aid, which was started by a similar grassroots effort in Portland, Ore.
For more information about TAC, contact Roger Beaulieu, 779-5308.
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or at md****@mo*************.com.
