Residents of the Montezuma Cortez School District are invited to help teachers and students by purchasing school supplies. Although they are among the lowest paid teachers in Colorado, for years they have been spending large amounts of their own money to buy supplies for their students, so they will have the tools they need to learn. From August 6 thru August 20, supplies can be dropped off at First National Bank of Cortez, 2258 E Main. The supplies will be divided among all the schools in the RE-1 District, including Battle Rock and Southwest Open School.
The school supply drive is sponsored by the Montezuma County Loves Its Kids & Teachers (MCLIKT) project, which was created in 2011 to adopt teachers and help relieve some of the financial burden on them. The list of supplies most needed is based on applications submitted by teachers last year. They are: Expo low odor dry erase markers and erasers for white boards; copy/printer paper (used for work sheets, art work, tests, instructions, notices, etc); #2 pencils, small pencil sharpeners, pencil top erasers, other erasers, single subject spiral notebooks; composition books; 1 inch 3-ring binders and loose leaf paper (college or wide ruled), dividers; construction paper, graph paper; colored pencils; pocket folders (with or without clasps); highlighters; glue sticks, school glue; post it notes, scotch tape and tape dispensers; items to use as awards for achievement, Kleenex; and healthy snacks (non-perishable).
There are approximately 200 teachers and more than 2,550 teachers in the District. The goal is to provide every teacher and every student with some of the tools they need. Later, there will also be opportunities for individual teachers to be adopted and let the community know what else is needed to help their students. If you or your church, organization or business would like to adopt one or more teachers, help a school, library or help a specific school or for more information, contact Judy Schuenemeyer at judyswsc@q.com or 565-7837.