“I remember having to bring in my own moth and frog for science class,” Dr. Jeana Conley said, reminiscing about her school experiences. “My science teacher offered a prize for the student who brought in the biggest grasshopper.”
Conley, who is superintendent of Cherokee County Schools today, searched a long time to find a grasshopper big enough to win the prize.
“The winner got a sucker. I won,” she recalled with a smile. “But I cried when he killed it (with formaldehyde).”
With classes starting Monday in county schools, times have changed dramatically from the days of pencil cases and worksheets. For ages, parents were given a list of supplies from their classroom teacher to purchase for their own student’s needs.
In early August, local shops dedicated large shelving sections crammed with protractors, ruled lined paper and crayons
However, as funding for education became a more a provocation than a privilege, parents were soon shouldered with long lists not only for their child, but also for the needs of the entire classroom. These lists were comprehensive, and sometimes financially burdensome for the parents.
“It’s not a parent’s job to provide Kleenex for classes or markers for teacher,” Conley said. The State Instructional Supply division is meant to cover those costs, but she admitted the supply provision only goes so far.
“It’s like peanut butter,” Conley said, “it can only spread so thin.”
Under her 32 years in education, eight of them leading Cherokee County Schools, she knows of teachers who use their own money for larger provisions, but it breaks her heart.
“If they submit their needs, for rugs or books, etc., to the School Improvement Team, then these items can sometimes be provided for them,” Conley said.
So faculty have some resources to assist them in preparing their classrooms for the new school year. But what about the students?
Well, the modern educational climate has been very good to parents’ pocketbooks.
“Things like notebooks, pencils, graph paper, students don’t need those things anymore,” Conley clarified. All 2,988 students in Cherokee County work from a school-issued computer. “Nobody submits work on paper anymore,” she added.
Learning has evolved from classic education with a focus on process to more project based learning. This means the old school supplies lists have become antiquated.
“All Cherokee County students are responsible for only three supplies,” Conley said, “a backpack, a water bottle and gym shoes.”
She said there has been some confusion in the community because walmart.com posted a supply list on behalf of one school in Cherokee County.
Dane Rickett, principal of Murphy Elementary School, said a parent recently approached him.
“She told me she had just purchased everything listed on the Walmart supply list for the school,” he said. “The problem is, the school doesn’t have a supply list anymore. Our students only need two things – a backpack and a water bottle.”
Murphy Elementary students don’t need special shoes for gym because their gym floor is tiled, rather than wooden. “We don’t have a supply list,” Rickett said with emphasis.
Any family needing gym shoes can contact their teacher. The nonprofit Cherokee County Shoe Fund provides free shoes to any students needing them. For details, call Stephanie Hass at Central Office to coordinate with Steven Aft’s State Farm Insurance Agency at 837-2722.
In addition, Murphy First United Methodist Church provides backpacks, and even clothing for those needing some assistance. Reach of Cherokee County Inc. provides backpacks as well.
This means every Cherokee County student can attend school and find everything they need there. Rickett expanded on this idea.
“We offer free education,” he said. “That means we have equity among our students.”
At his school, each student will find a supplied pencil box on their desk when they arrive.
“This equalizes the children,” Rickett said, meaning no child has less than another.
Cherokee County Schools wants education to be the center of the student’s experience. Rickett credits their success obtaining supplies to community involvement, but points a finger toward Conley.
“Her best strength is to recognize how each decision will affect our parents and students,” he said.
For students under Conley’s watch, if a grasshopper is required for science, they certainly won’t be out searching for one of their own.
“When they are home, we want our families to discuss what their child is learning – not what they need to buy for school,” she said.
Be cautious around school busses
Monday is the first day of classes in Cherokee County Schools, which has the same campuses as
last year, although The Learning Center charter school in Murphy has closed.
Be alert for local students walking to and from campus, as well as school busses picking up and dropping off children from 6:30-8 a.m. and 2:30-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
For details and questions about the 2022-23 school year, call Central Office at 837-2722.