With budgets at individual school sites, as well as the Morgan
Hill School District as a whole, being cut to the bone, teachers
are scrambling to come up with supplies for their classrooms, and
next year could be even worse.
With budgets at individual school sites, as well as the Morgan Hill School District as a whole, being cut to the bone, teachers are scrambling to come up with supplies for their classrooms, and next year could be even worse.
Teachers Aid Coalition (TAC) of Morgan Hill was founded to encourage private donations by individuals and local businesses to lessen the classroom expense burden of teachers.
The TAC steering committee includes founder Jon Hatakeyama, Burnett Elementary School Principal Bob Davis, Morgan Hill City Clerk Irma Torrez, Executive Director, Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce Sunday Minnich and Mary Alice Callahan, president of the local teacher’s union.
Hatakeyama said there are many instances of teachers in the district reaching into their own pockets for money for supplies.
“For example,” he said, “Live Oak biology teacher Jim Hemeon has an AP Biology class of 43 students. He has a $100 stipend given to him by the School District to provide instructional materials, photo copy assignments and lesson plans, teaching materials and specimens, safety items such as gloves and protective clothing, and other materials specific to this AP Biology class. He must come up with, using this same $100, other common classroom supplies as well.”
Hatakeyama said colored chalk, markers, tissue, audio/visual aids are just some of the common supplies necessary not only for this AP class but for all of his biology classes. Hemeon will end up spending at least an additional $300 to make up the difference needed to properly teach this one class. Hemeon has three other biology classes.
This is not a situation faced only by high school teachers, Hatakeyama said, nor is it a recent phenomenon. Teachers at every level in every school must spend above what is paid by the district. Parents have frequently helped out, as teachers request donations of tissues and other supplies; Home & School clubs raise money to help as well.
However, these donations still do not cover all that teachers need. And, said Hatakeyama, “our teachers can ill afford the escalating costs of these supplies on the fixed incomes they receive.”
Now, budgets may be cut even more.
“There is a distinct possibility due to the poor economy that the state and local cutbacks will decrease or even eliminate these inadequate classroom stipends our teachers receive,” Hatakeyama said.
TAC was organized in October 2001. Hatakeyama said the idea for TAC came after learning local teachers needed supplies. He based the project on a project also called Teacher’s Aid started by a similar grass roots effort in Portland, Oregon.
Teachers Aid has received recent donations from the Target stores in Morgan Hill, as well as a monetary donation from a local company, American Predator Corporation, Hatakeyama said. Company President Ed Trevis stated his belief in the importance of local support by the community, and Target officials issued a statement recognizing the importance of giving back to the communities which support their stores.
TAC is planning a final distribution for this school term in early April. Fundraising events involving local restaurants are also in the works, Hatakeyama said.
In the meantime, he said, “TAC is encouraging the public’s help and thoughtfulness by bringing some item useful to the classroom or sending a check” to MHUSD – TAC Fund in care of Dr. Hatakeyama at 370 W. Dunne Avenue, Suite #3, Morgan Hill.
Larger amounts or bulk items can be brought to or arrangements made for pick up by contacting Richard Jones at 779-8336 for the 85 Tilden Avenue facility.
Volunteers are also needed. TAC is asking potential volunteers to contact Hatakeyama at 779-7391 or Davis at 779-5241.
