For the past few years, Adair County school students (and, of course, their parents) have enjoyed school supplies being provided by the school system. Essential items like notebooks, binders, pencils, and the “traditional” necessities were completely free to parents.
But… why? The story behind these freebies stems from the pandemic. As the world has moved on from the Covid-19 years, many of the pandemic’s lingering effects have begun to fade. Most of these reversions are unequivocally positive—social distancing is a thing of the past, for instance—but some are more complicated.
Included in the Covid-19 response was emergency funding for schools. Part of this funding was referred as the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, or ESSER Funds. According to Adair County Schools’ official ESSER Plan, a portion of the money was used in purchasing programs, devices like laptops or iPads, and software to make remote learning not only possible but effective. Other chunks of the ESSER Funds were used on additional substitute teachers or Summer School expenses.
In addition, individual school supplies were provided. Reasons for this were twofold: one, to help during an economic downtime for many families and two, to keep people from having to get out in crowded supermarkets to shop, thus hopefully reducing the disease’s spread.
As lockdown measures lifted and the pandemic got farther and farther in the rearview mirror, the funding eventually ran out. As a result, the schools have reverted back to asking parents to fund individual school supplies.
For this year, elementary students are expected to have the basics – pencils, binders, folders, notebooks, and paper. The middle school supply list is short, only asking for six two-pocket folders, pencils, paper, highlighters, and an optional set of headphones. A positive of even temporary federal funding was that part of it was used to purchase Chromebooks for students. Now, work can be done digitally, reducing the need for at least some supplies parents would have needed to purchase in years’ past.
Still, though the school supplies listed are largely inexpensive, for families on budgets or with multiple children, that money can add up. While paper and pencils may no longer be covered for Adair Countians, there are still several options available for those who need assistance.
“We have Family Resource with school supplies on hand for anyone who needs them,” Adair County Schools Superintendent Jason Faulkner said.
The Family Resource Youth Services Center (FRYSC) has a coordinator in the each school in the district. With the motto of “whatever it takes” and a mission to “(remove) barriers that interfere with a child’s academic progress,” FRYSC is available for a variety of needs. The coordinators have spent this summer hosting pop-ups around town and participating in events like Paint the Square.
Additionally, on July 31 and Aug. 1, a free clothing giveaway was held for families in need. There are also numerous local churches and organizations to assist in the transitions back to school.
In Adair County, no one is ever too far from help.
FRYSC Primary Center can be reached at 270-384-9752. Other schools’ FRYSC programs can be reached at (270) 384-6050.
By Kenley Godby
kenley@adairvoice.com
