D11 offering teachers and students free school supplies

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- District 11 (D11) in Colorado Springs is providing students and teachers with free school supplies to start the year out on a positive note.

For students, D11 says it will provide more than 14,000 students with customized grade-specific supply kits at no cost to families.

The district says that a partnership with Edukit, a local supply kit provider, will help the district's 46 elementary and middle schools.

Each kit will include items such as notebooks, pencils, folders, and more at no cost to families, says officials.

According to the district, D11 High School students working with EduKit helped pack the kits for their peers. Officials say that back-to-school spending is expected to be more than $41 billion and that they hope the kits will offer relief to the families.

“Every student deserves to start the year feeling supported and ready to learn,” said Sherry Kalbach, Area Superintendent at District 11. “By covering supply costs, we’re removing barriers for families and helping keep the focus where it belongs—on learning. We’re grateful for our partnership with EduKit and especially excited that D11 high schoolers helped assemble the kits for their younger peers.”

The school district is also providing teachers with supplies at "Supplies for Success" at Tesla Educational Opportunity School, where educators are given more than just the basic needs.

"We know that teaching is a labor of love and hard work, and we just wanted to take a moment before the new year kicks off to express our gratitude and help our teachers just feel the love that we have for them and make sure they feel appreciated," says Ash Angiollo, the director of educator and stakeholder development.

Essentials are provided to teachers through the school budgets, but at the event, educators can find playing cards, yoga chairs, and headphones, items that would normally be an extra cost for the teacher.

"I definitely think it's worth all teachers coming down to take a look at what's here. A lot of things were really surprising to me. I got a lamp for my room," says a middle school teacher.

For students, the supplies will be delivered on the first day of school. However, if you are in need of unique supplies as a teacher, further events will be held on:

• August 8: Central (8:30–11 a.m.) | West (12:30–3 p.m.)
• August 11–12: Leftovers available first-come, first-served (8 a.m.)

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