Online help for teacher supplies Classrooms now open for registries just like weddings, babies. Friday, August 31, 2007 • BY CHANDRA M. HAYSLETT • Star-Ledger Staff Melissa Dalere spent about $1,000 of her own money on classroom supplies for her first-grade students each year for the last two years. And she expects to spend another grand this school year. "I'm buying pretty much everything -- little games, math manipulatives, decorations," said Dalere, a teacher at Hillcrest Elementary School in Somerset. Dalere, who begins her third year of teaching next week, said colleagues warned her out-of-pocket costs can quickly add up. "I'd been told by many teachers that the first three years, you spend a lot," she said. "You're building your library and supplies." As a result, Dalere turned this year to theteacherswishlist.com, one of several online registries that have popped up to provide parents with information on useful classroom items, should they decide to pitch in for supplies. Dalere's wish list included books, mini erasers, math supplies and writing lessons. Most of the Web sites operate similarly to wedding and engagement registries by allowing visitors to purchase directly from the site, or redirect people to partner companies. The requests by teachers typically include the standard books and pencils, though some go for big-ticket items like televisions and microscopes. Cost of education "It's a tough issue. It's unfortunate when members have to provide supplies for the basic educational process," said Steve Baker, spokesman for the New Jersey Education Association, the state teachers union. "School boards should be looking for ways to provide those resources." An NJEA poll of 600 members found that during the 2004-05 school year, teachers spent an average of $415 out of pocket on supplies, Baker said. Mike Yaple, spokesman for the New Jersey School Boards Association, said board members and parents are amazed at how much teachers spend of their own money each year. "In every budget, there will be funding for classroom supplies, but it suffers like many other parts of the budget," Yaple said. "In every line item, you will find people who believe that schools could be doing more." The trend toward teachers spending their own money to supply classrooms drove James Rosenberg to create adoptaclassroom.com 10 years ago, said Nicole Hommen, director of development for the site. Rosenberg, a former corporate lawyer, spent his free time tutoring a young boy who often didn't have supplies. Classroom benefits About 8,000 teachers are registered on the site. Donors may specify a classroom or make a general donation, Hommen said. If a donor designates a classroom, the teacher receives an e-mail and may use the money to shop at one of the 15 online partner stores. The minimum donation is $25 and 100 percent of the money goes to the teacher. Kristine Drown was asked last school year to pilot a program for multiple-disabled students at Watsessing Elementary in Bloomfield, but was not given any supplies. Drown, who teaches fourth grade at the Essex County school, put her wish list of items on iloveschools.com about a year ago, but hasn't had any bites. "I think the site is great, but it needs more exposure. There are people out there with money" who could purchase items, she said. The iloveschools site launched in 2003 and more than 13,000 teachers have registered. All of the donations go directly to benefit the classroom. Chandra M. Hayslett may be reached at chayslett@starledger.com or 732-404-8089. © 2007 The Star-Ledger. Used by NJ.com with permission.