Dianne Chavers, shown inside her AES classroom, refused to say how much money she’s personally spent on classroom
supplies. Like other teachers in the city system, she received a check or $200 for supplies yesterday.
Come Monday, Anna Johnson will begin her first official day on the job as a fifth grade teacher at Andalusia Elementary School. And without have ever receiving a paycheck, she’s already in the hole some $800.
Why? Because students aren’t the only ones who need school supplies.
For the last three years, there have been no state funds given to teachers to purchase classroom supplies such as copier paper, ink cartridges, pencils, pens or even books for classroom libraries. It’s also why school systems send out “suggested donation items” lists containing paper towels, hand sanitizer, Kleenex and the like at the beginning of the school year. There’s no extra money to purchase these items, ACS teachers said.
“Since this is my first year here, my room is blank,” said Johnson, who used the $800 she’s already spent to outfit her classroom. “I needed to buy everything. I needed and still need supplies, decorations, everything.”
But Tuesday, teachers in the Andalusia City School System got a “Christmas gift in August” in the form of a $200 stipend from the Andalusia Utilities Board.
“Wow is all I can say,” said first grade teacher Jackie Henderson, who likened the appropriation to a Christmas gift. “Of course, I’ve already spent way over that $200, but I can’t say thank you enough for the money.”
Like Johnson, Stephanie Nall is a first-time teacher at AES. Nall, a third grade teacher, said she’s spent between $700 and $800 on her classroom, purchasing the basics for the first day of school.
Third grade teacher Dianne Chavers refused to say how much she’s already spent out-of-pocket.
“I can’t tell because my husband would see it,” she said. “But I can tell you that money (the utilities board gave), that is a huge deal. We’re in our third year of having no money, and having to pay for everything out of pocket. Every penny counts, especially when you have only a few pennies.”
And teachers across the state have less money to spend on school supplies this year. That’s because the Legislature, seeking to stabilize the state employee retirement system, approved a big increase in the amount of money teachers are paying toward their retirement.
Teachers likened the change to a 2.5 percent reduction in salary.
“We’re not going to have our children do without in our classrooms,” Chavers said. “Things have to get done and you have to have the supplies to do it.”
Judy Bozeman, a special services professional for fourth and fifth graders, said she was “ecstatic” for the funds.
“Right now, I’d say I’m up to $600 out-of-pocket,” Bozeman said. “But it’s all worth it. Kudos to the utilities board for doing this for us. They don’t know what it means to us.”
Members of the South Alabama host team for the 12U World Series are ready to extend a warm welcome to visiting teams.
Team members are McKenzie Ladson, Sarah Langford, Hayden Willis, Colby Adams, Tiffani Dean, Katlynn Schively,
Cassie Godwin, Aaliyah Lawrence, Molly Stewart, Brentley Armstrong, Derriaunna Gantt, Bailee Boyd, Abby Walker,
Hope Ladson, Taylor McGhee and Santana Hamrac. Special thanks to the AHS cheerleaders for the welcome sign.
Today, Covington County will welcome 12 softball teams from across the U.S., their families and coaches to Andalusia for the 2011 Babe Ruth 12U Softball World Series.
The hotels are booked, and the welcome signs rolled out, event organizers said Tuesday.
“This is a big, big day,” said Dwight Mikel, Andalusia’s director of leisure services. “This is going to be an outstanding event.”
Play begins Thursday and will continue through Aug. 9 with teams from Franklin, La.; Mineral Area, Mo.; Halifax, Mass.; Othello, Wash.; Hazlet, N.J.; Fern Creek, Ky.; Lodi, Calif.; Oviedo, Fla.; East Brewton; Brewton; South Alabama (host); and Alexander City competing.
Mikel said those teams traveling by plane will arrive in Montgomery and Pensacola, Fla., and will be bused from the airport to Andalusia. The first bus is expected to roll in at approximately 2:50 p.m. Other teams will arrive throughout the night.
“We want to give these girls and their families a great experience,” Mikel said. “And with that said, what we really want to see is the stands full. Even if you don’t have someone on the South Alabama team playing, come out and support everyone.
“It’d be great if people would adopt a team and come out and cheer for them,” he said.
Admission is $5 per day for adults, $3 for students age 6 to 18.
Tournament passes are also available – $25 for adults; $15 for students; or $60 for a family pass for up to five family members. Passes are available at Johnson Park and area banks.
Teams will begin arriving in Andalusia at approximately 3 p.m. Upon their arrival, the girls will check-in and receive welcome bags.
Thurs., Aug. 4
At 9 a.m., teams and their families will be treated to a come-and-go event at Springdale, complete with a live presentation of Andalusia’s history.
At 11:30, they will attend a luncheon banquet at the Kiwanis Center, with guest speaker, Troy University’s softball coach Melanie Davis
The South Alabama team will take to the mound at 5:30 p.m. in the first game of the series.
Opening ceremonies are set for 7:30 p.m.
The Andalusia City Council agreed to sell a 2.12 acre parcel of land located on River Falls Street near Debro Hill for $42,000.
In the terms of the agreement, the city will retain right-of-way access to its old landfill.
“A boat business plans to expand,” Mayor Earl Johnson said. “This will be a big improvement.”
In order to sell the property, the council first had to declare it surplus.