Teachers are angry after being asked to take down Amazon wish lists for their classrooms in Waynesboro Public Schools. A WPS administrator said he thinks it boils down to confusion over the school system’s policy.
An email sent to educators dated July 8 asked teachers to send their lists to pass on to the “appropriate people” until a final decision is made on the use of Amazon lists.
The email read: “I know many of you create Amazon wish lists for your classroom. We have been asked by the division not to post these at this point. If you already have one posted, please take it down. Please send it to me, and I will pass it on to the appropriate people. A final decision has not been made at this point about if we can use these types of wish lists, but I will keep you posted as I get more information.”
The sender of the email was blacked out, so it’s unclear which school the sender was affiliated with and/or if it was a principal or other school administrator who sent the email.
A copy of the email was sent to AFP anonymously along with a short letter expressing outrage over the request.
“Our school division has budget provisions to support teachers in preparing their classrooms,” said Ryan Barber, assistant superintendent for WPS, in response to the email. “When Amazon wish lists and Donors Choose posts are made, the school division is often unaware of these requests. Many times, we can fully fund them or provide necessary resources.”
If additional resources are available as Barber suggests, the teachers don’t seem to be aware of them.
In a previous interview with AFP, Barber referenced Project Hope and a $50,000-a-year grant that can be used for anything that helps a child be ready to access their education including supplies, groceries, clothes, shoes and glasses.
In the letter to AFP, the Waynesboro Public Schools teacher said that it is common for educators to spend money out of their own pockets to purchase supplies for students, and they said they are not reimbursed.
The Amazon wish lists by all counts are a lifeline to teachers, and it appears that the teachers and administration are certainly not on the same page about what is allowed and what is not.
For anyone on social media, Amazon wish lists from nonprofit organizations and teachers are very common and allow family and friends to contribute to the cause.
“Many teachers are very upset with this. We are angry that we even must ask for help because our employer does not give us the supplies we need to do our jobs.
“Many teachers turn to social media asking for support, donations, etc. Last year, it was mentioned that we should not be doing this as it looks bad on the school division and makes the public think that WPS does not give us enough money.”
The teacher also questioned how the school system can require them to take down something on their personal social media pages.
Barber said that the policy is to streamline and coordinate efforts, not necessarily to shut them down completely. He said the teacher who sent the note should contact him directly as he is “happy to help with the confusion.”
“We kindly ask that teachers approach their principals before posting requests for materials on donation websites,” Barber said.
Public gifts to schools
Barber provided AFP with a copy of Waynesboro Public Schools public gift policy which reads:
“The School Board acts on offers of gifts to schools or to the school division. The School Board may impose reasonable conditions on donations.
When any real or personal property is given to and accepted by the Board, it vests in the Board unless inconsistent with the terms of the gift, devise or bequest, and is managed by the Board, according to the wishes of the donor or testator. The Board in addition to the regular settlement it is required to make of all school funds, settles annually before the commissioner of accounts so far as the management of the property bequeathed or devised is concerned.
In the case of any change in the boundaries of the division, the Board shall make provision for continuing the fulfillment of the purposes of the donor as far as practicable and settlement shall be made as provided for above.”
“Our requests to our teachers align with this policy,” Barber said.
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Crystal Graham
