Commerce school leaders will be tasked to find textbook money this year amid bleak financial figures.
New books for K-8 English and two levels of high school math, slated for adoption this year, will cost approximately $116,960.
The state covers $35,732 of that cost, leaving Commerce to pay the remaining balance — around $81,000 — out of its own pocket.
“Obviously, the money is not there from the state,” Commerce Schools superintendent James “Mac” McCoy said. “We just hope that we’re able to pick it up locally to where all kids have what they need.”
The state actually does not require school districts to adopt new books, but the system must keep up with curriculum changes.
And some books are now out-of-date.
That leaves Commerce school leaders with some numbers-crunching to do.
“It’s another one of those things where, what are we going to have to not do in order to do that?” McCoy said.
The city school system isn’t exactly sure how much money it can apply toward textbooks since it still awaits word from the state legislature concerning education cuts.
At last count, the school system could lose $205,000 next year, but nothing is certain.
McCoy said the Commerce Board of Education might have to wait until June to vote on textbooks.
Additionally, the school system may incur $11,277 in expenses for social studies, a new drama course and its expanding advanced placement (AP) program.
If Commerce lands a grant for AP physics, it would have to purchase books and lab supplies for four AP courses next year.
I am a student at CHS and I can't stand how our school is all about sports. I thought school was to help students get an education, not make [or try to make] pro-atheletes out of them. I guess that is why the students who actually have mre than one brain cell are picked on so much. Oh well, I'm just glad to be one of those students who realizes there is more to life than some sport that will get me nowhere.
combined salaries and we are questioning how to buy text books and one of those people is a
football coach. Mr McCoy it time to make some changes. We need to make drastic changes so we can educate, teaching my child science is more important than football, having social studie books is more important than football. I am not saying don't have football lets just have a new coach. Some of the positions are not teachers they are staff lets look at that with a dose of reality!