A public school district that couldn’t afford to buy copier paper.
That was the dilemma facing the Sto-Rox district when a school counselor sent out a plea for help on social media. The overwhelming response was yet another example of the generosity of Western Pennsylvanians when it comes to helping a neighbor in need.
And while the support from the community was heartwarming, the circumstances that led to the desperate situation serve as stark reminder of the many financial challenges poorer school districts must overcome.
Sto-Rox, a district in which nearly a quarter of residents live below the federal poverty level, had no money left in the budget for paper with more than three months remaining in the school year. Copier paper is a necessary part of the curriculum because, as counselor Katie Couch pointed out, “We have to resort to using paper because we don’t have computers for everyone.”
Ms. Couch, at the urging of the school principal, reached out for donations by using Twitter. The response from local businesses and the community was so tremendous, she created an Amazon wish list and worked in tandem with several teachers who had started their own online donation campaigns to help with needed classroom supplies.
The result? More than 100 cases of paper, and dozens of boxes filled with needed supplies such as markers, pencils, erasers, notebooks and tape. There were even donations of tissues and snacks. Many of those items are things teachers end up providing on their own rather than seeing their students go without.
It’s a common problem for districts like Sto-Rox that have a declining tax base and a limited budget. Compounding the financial woes are required payments to charter schools for students who opt for available education outside the public school district.
Elementary Principal Heather Johnston said that charter school bills are hitting the district particularly hard this year. The district already faces a $3.7 million budget deficit for the 2019-2020 school year.
The charter school funding debate will continue in the state Legislature, where several proposals are under consideration, but there seems little consensus on a compromise. School districts will likely have to contend with that issue for the foreseeable future.
In the meantime, Sto-Rox officials can take comfort in knowing there are many in the community who understand the district’s plight and are willing to help. It’s just a shame that the need seems likely to grow.
First Published: March 9, 2020, 10:00 a.m.