Educators line up for free school supplies at The Mirage
Math teacher Kathryn Buffington-Lacey stood in line nearly three hours at Educator Appreciation Day to get supplies for her students. She did not get much, but it was free.
"I’ve already spent several hundred dollars buying stuff," said Buffington-Lacey, a teacher at Knudson Middle School, 2400 Atlantic St. "I have a lot of low-income kids. I try to keep supplies not only in the classroom but for the kids who don’t have stuff."
She was one of about 700 teachers to do so Aug. 21 at the second annual event at The Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. South. MGM Resorts International hosted a school supplies drive at all of its properties, and employees donated all the items.
The line of teachers spanned 100 feet outside The Mirage’s Montego Ballroom door. Once inside, teachers snaked about the room like at an airport ticket counter. Once they reached the supplies tables, they were limited on what they could take.
Backpacks were first, one per teacher.
"I always have kids who don’t have backpacks," Buffington-Lacey said.
Markers were next, two packages per teacher.
"That’s a score!" Buffington-Lacey said, referring to the number of markers she was able to get. Dry-erase markers are her biggest expense, she said.
She was excited to be in line early enough to get Crayola brand crayons instead of the off-brand ones. They last longer and have better color, she said.
She eagerly eyed the Post-It notes that were a few items ahead. She called them a "luxury."
In addition to school supplies, teachers also could get items such as shampoo, mouthwash, deodorant, toothpaste and soap.
Buffington-Lacey has been a teacher in the Clark County School District for nine years and has seen the effects of budget cuts at Knudson.
"There’s no money right now," she said. " … It’s ridiculous; it reduces us to welfare. We’re always begging the public, always begging the parents, casinos, selling T-shirts, you know, selling candy bars for stuff like this."
She held up a package of pens.
"We’re not living the high life here," she said.
Last year about 380 teachers attended the inaugural giveaway event. MGM got help from the school district and the Public Education Foundation to spread the word about this year’s event, which also featured informational booths of local nonprofit groups and businesses with resources for teachers. MGM’s director of corporate philanthropy, Jocelyn Bluitt-Fisher, said the company started the event in response to the recent budget cuts to education.
"We know teachers go into their own pockets every year to help buy supplies for the classroom," she said. "It doesn’t resolve the entire problem, but it is something we can do so teachers don’t have to carry that burden. When a student doesn’t have the supplies they need, it impacts the entire classroom."
Bluitt-Fisher said the hottest items both years have been USB drives.
Two other teachers at the event were James and Melissa Murphy of Glen Taylor Elementary School, 2655 Siena Heights Drive. James Murphy said his students usually come to school with the necessary supplies and that he was just preparing for the forgetful ones.
Melissa Murphy, a special education teacher, said she needs all the help she can get. She usually spends $1,500 to $2,000 a year on supplies.
"Special ed’s always been rough," she said. "You are the last to get anything. I beg, borrow, steal, cannibalize. You have to have thick skin and no pride when you’re special ed."
Contact View education reporter Jeff Mosier at jmosier@viewnews.com or 224-5524.
