Putnam Schools Offering School Supply Resources, Shopping Tips

Back to school time does not have to be a stressor on a parent’s budget.

Putnam County Schools Academic Social Interventionist Cindy Putman said that full school supply lists are online. However, teachers are understanding of families on a tight budget.

Putman said often teachers and the student services department have access to extra supplies.

“We don’t want any family to be stressed out about buying school supplies,” Putman said. “But it does make a difference when kids can come to school with supplies that they need and they feel good about themselves to start the school year off right.”

Putman said that when school supply shopping, focus on the most important items that might not be supplied by the school system. She said if teachers require a specific brand of item, do not waste money buying an alternative if it is not what the teacher asked for.

“It can be very frustrating because you feel like you have limited resources sometimes and you have a lot of things that you need to get,” Putman said. “But pick and choose, buy the most important things first. Then the other things, I’m sure the teachers will be able to supplement that within the classroom.”

Putman said if parents go out for the big school supplies shopping trip, make sure they have the full supplies list. She said that’s key to making the most of a trip if families have kids in different grades, at different schools.

“One of the great things that is happening is that there are some stores that are having back to school sales,” Putman said. “Lots of times you can find things that if you buy a certain number of crayons or a certain number of pencils that you get them for a discount.”

For parents pressed for time and money, she said Amazon is a great resource for school supplies. Putman said if parents have any questions or concerns about school supplies, they can reach out to student services.