School bells mean added expense for parents
When the bell rings on the first day of school, parents in Marion USD 408 will breathe a sigh of relief and their checkbooks will gasp for air.
Enrollment fees combined with the cost of school supplies, clothes, and shoes make the cost of sending a child to school a major household expenditure.
One parent of a high school student said she spent about $300 for enrollment, supplies, clothes and a yearbook. Another parent with two high school students and a child at Marion Elementary said she spent nearly $1,000 to get them ready for school. Other parents estimated about $250 per child for enrollment, supplies, and clothes.
The sale of school supplies has been good, according to Marion Healthmart employee Shirley Jo Hett.
In past years, the store has sold sacks of supplies packaged according to the list furnished by the school. They didn't offer that service this year.
"It didn't cut down on sales," Hett said. "It might have taken people a little longer to shop and sometimes they picked up extra items," she added.
Textbook fees are $14 for a kindergarten student. If that child wants milk and crackers for each school day, there is an additional charge of $20. School supplies, including crayons, glue, scissors, erasers, and tissues, cost about $10.
Students grades one through six pay $30 for textbook fees. Breakfast, which is optional, is $22 per month. Lunch is $32 per month but students are allowed to bring sack lunches. The cost of school supplies is between $15-$40, depending on the grade. All elementary school students must furnish a pair of gym shoes for physical education.
Middle school and high school students also pay $30 for textbook fees. Meals are more expensive. Breakfast is $27 per month and lunch $37.
According to the supply list furnished by the school, students in middle school probably spend about $50 on paper, pens, and notebooks for classes. Teachers may require additional supplies after school begins.
High school students say they also spend about $50 on supplies to start school.
A high school yearbook is $45.
After the fees are paid and supplies bought, students shop for clothes, shoes, and backpacks. If a child is out for sports, parents pay $20 for a physical and another $50-$100 for sports shoes.
Fortunately, enrollment fees are paid annually. When fall fades to winter and students are ready to trade football cleats for basketball shoes, parents will again be pulling out checkbooks for another round of shopping.
