Huntley 158 aims to lower cost of school supplies

Families purchasing school supplies for the upcoming 2018-19 school year hopefully have noticed a reduction in the cost for these supplies compared to previous years.

As a result of a concerted effort by Huntley Unit District 158 schools, the average cost of school supplies for students in kindergarten through eighth grade has gone down between 23 percent and 58 percent over last year.

"We challenged our principals to get together, see how they could put our families first, and develop uniform supply lists for each grade level that would really trim down to what is needed for learning," said Chief Financial Officer Mark Altmayer.

"We continue to be the second-lowest spending unit district in the Chicago area, and we are always looking for ways to reduce the financial burdens on our families and taxpayers."

The district also worked with schools to identify opportunities for cost efficiencies in bulk ordering some common supplies and providing those for families. The school year begins Wednesday, Aug. 15.

Items now being supplied by schools include glue sticks, highlighters, thin markers, rulers, dry-erase markers, facial tissue, plastic storage bags, anti-bacterial wipes, Post-it notes, and three-ring binders.

The prices below represent last year's costs vs. this year's costs and are based on school supply packs offered through Educational Products Inc., which are offered for sale through PTA and PTO groups each summer. Costs will vary for families choosing to purchase supplies individually:

• Kindergarten: $53 to $22 (58 percent);

• First grade: $62 to $27 (56 percent);

• Second grade: $51 to $32 (37 percent);

• Third grade: $50 to $22 (56 percent);

• Fourth grade: $44 to $22 (50 percent);

• Fifth grade: $51 to $22 (57 percent);

• Sixth grade: $41 to $28 (32 percent);

• Seventh grade: $46 to $29 (37 percent);

• Eighth grade: $39 to $30 (23 percent)

View the full school supply lists for Huntley 158 schools at www.district158.org.