Asbell to provide starting school supplies for students
Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Asbell Elementary School students and their parents will receive a price break on school supplies when they show up for the first day of school Aug. 6.
Principal LaTayna Greene decided to spend part of the school's Title I program dollars on school supplies for all the school's students this year.
Title programs are federally funded programs that provide schools with a certain percentage of low-income stu- dents additional revenue to help with math and reading instruction.
Some of the things the Title I money helps pay for are classroom aides, technology, the school's literacy coordinator, and reading materials or programs.
"It all directly benefits students," Greene said.
She spent part of Monday handing out the supplies to teachers, who will distribute them in the classroom.
The supplies purchased target everything students would be expected to buy to be prepared for class when school starts. Greene estimated buying all the items costs $ 15, 000.
Last year, 75 percent of Asbell students were enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program. The federal program provides free and reduced-cost lunches to students who meet certain income guidelines.
Greene said her goal with the purchase is to provide an expense break for Asbell families this year.
Whether the school will be able to provide school supplies again in future years depends on funding and for what other expenses the funds are needed.
As of Monday afternoon, 428 students in kindergarten through fifth grade had enrolled at Asbell for the upcoming school year.
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