On the first day of school, James John Elementary's 500 students will get the tools they need to succeed thanks to a $7,500 community enhancement grant from Metro. Through a partnership with Schoolhouse Supplies, every child enrolled at the school will receive a new backpack full of classroom supplies.
Schoolhouse Supplies, a nonprofit dedicated to providing Portland Public Schools with the supplies students need to learn, coordinates the effort. The program is aimed at providing relief for parents, who spend an average of $96 on school supplies per child each year, as well as teachers, who sometimes contribute hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars for classroom supplies.
"Schoolhouse Supplies is thrilled to welcome new partner Metro to Tools for Schools 2011," said Jennifer Samuels, development director for the nonprofit.
"Metro’s partnership with James John School will ensure that every student at the school in the heart of St. Johns has the school supplies needed to kick-off a year of learning and achieving," she said.
The Tools for Schools program targets schools where at least 65 percent of students are eligible for federally-funded free or reduced lunches. Eighty-two percent of James John students qualify for the lunch assistance.
Word of Metro’s grant was spread to parents in June, when staff members at James John were told the school would receive enough book bags and supplies for all of its students.
"We contact the principals in June, letting them know that their school has been sponsored," Samuels said. "It's the best phone call we get to make all year."
"We love to get that message out there so those families and parents aren't stressed out about how their families are going to afford those school supplies in September," Olinghouse said.
The most exciting part for teachers, said principal Beth Shelby, is starting the year off right.
"Believe it or not, yellow pencils and bright new spirals can be pretty exciting – symbolizing a new year of possibilities," Shelby said. "Metro's generous support of Schoolhouse Supplies means that every child can share in this same experience, regardless of income level."
Metro's community enhancement grants benefit areas directly affected by garbage disposal facilities. Funds for the project at James John Elementary School were generated from a 50-cent surcharge collected on each ton of garbage disposed of at the Metro Central garbage transfer station in Northwest Portland. Since the Metro Central program was established in 1991, Metro has invested more than $3.1 million in projects that that create changes in the community.
"This grant money is an investment that can make a difference for our children and our future," said Metro Councilor Rex Burkholder, whose district includes the neighborhoods around James John and who chairs Metro’s Northwest Portland grant selection committee.
During the 2011 funding cycle, Metro Council delivered $67,000 to fund 12 projects in North and Northwest Portland.