Mar. 5–When Lacy Mullis found out that some Craven County schoolchildren
weren’t receiving textbooks, she decided to do something about it.
Mullis, who has children in H.J. MacDonald Middle School and New Bern High
School, said a shortage of textbooks in some classes meant students had to
access materials online. She said trying to view a textbook with a dial-up
connection made learning difficult.
"Some kids are getting in trouble with their grades," Mullis said.
To remedy the problem, Mullis and her volunteer group, Our Kids Care, is
sponsoring a donation drive to raise money to buy new textbooks. Formed in the
wake of Hurricane Katrina, the group visits seniors in nursing homes and
participates in the N.C. Adopt-a-Highway program.
Terry Fuhrman, New Bern principal, said the school makes every effort to provide
students with books.
However, he said textbooks are ordered in cycles, with different subjects
placing orders in alternating years. More students have signed up for classes
such as earth science since the last order had been filled, he said.
Fuhrman said textbooks vary in cost and can run between $60 and $100 each.
The school district’s funding for textbooks comes under instructional supply
funding from the state and is based on the number of students in the schools.
Title: Craven parent claims textbook shortage
Authors: Goldstein, Zac
Source: Sun Journal (New Bern, NC); 03/05/2007