Pencils? Check. Notebooks? Check. Mop refills?!?!
SEATTLE -- With budgets tight and the needs long, school districts want parents to help pick up the slack.
More than ever before, families beginning back-to-school shopping are being asked to buy paper towels, cleaning supplies -- even refills for mops!
"We've always had a list... this list just happens to be longer," said mother Kristie Garrett.
Garrett is getting ready to send her two sons into third and sixth grades. In addition to notebooks and glue sticks on their school-issued supply lists, a few new things caught her attention.
"Such as painter's tape, or tissue, or reams of paper that teachers will need to print things out -- that was different," she said.
It's more money families need to fork over at a time when most families are watching every dime they spend.
But public school districts, and even private schools, say they have no choice, they have to lean on parents more than in the past.
"As schools have to make tough decisions about budgets, that anything they can do to keep their personnel in place, they will do," said Anne Haskins with St. Joseph's School.
At Seattle's St. Joseph, parents can pay to have Haskins do all the back-to-school shopping for them. She buys in bulk and saves money.
This year, nearly 400 bags are ready to go for students, priced from $50 to $140, depending on the grade level.
But mingled with pencils and folders are rolls of paper towels, disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer, even Ziploc bags, and plastic cutlery and bowls.
Families were even asked to supply wet Swiffer refills so the floor can get mopped.
"The 7th and 8th graders have what's called "clean teams," so they're responsible for cleaning not only their classrooms, but the hallways at the end of each day," Haskins said.
Buying more than "just the basics" could be enough to rub some parents the wrong way. But others say if the schools are coping with cutbacks, they're ready to pend a few more bucks.
"I'm fine buying it," said Ali Feary. "I realize that budgets are tight and things like that. That's easy to get -- two rolls of paper towels? Not that big of a problem."
But some parents say they've already been told that once school starts, they'll most likely get another shopping list. And across the country, a few districts are telling kids to come to school with a batch of toilet paper and garbage bags.
More than ever before, families beginning back-to-school shopping are being asked to buy paper towels, cleaning supplies -- even refills for mops!
"We've always had a list... this list just happens to be longer," said mother Kristie Garrett.
Garrett is getting ready to send her two sons into third and sixth grades. In addition to notebooks and glue sticks on their school-issued supply lists, a few new things caught her attention.
"Such as painter's tape, or tissue, or reams of paper that teachers will need to print things out -- that was different," she said.
It's more money families need to fork over at a time when most families are watching every dime they spend.
But public school districts, and even private schools, say they have no choice, they have to lean on parents more than in the past.
"As schools have to make tough decisions about budgets, that anything they can do to keep their personnel in place, they will do," said Anne Haskins with St. Joseph's School.
At Seattle's St. Joseph, parents can pay to have Haskins do all the back-to-school shopping for them. She buys in bulk and saves money.
This year, nearly 400 bags are ready to go for students, priced from $50 to $140, depending on the grade level.
But mingled with pencils and folders are rolls of paper towels, disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer, even Ziploc bags, and plastic cutlery and bowls.
Families were even asked to supply wet Swiffer refills so the floor can get mopped.
"The 7th and 8th graders have what's called "clean teams," so they're responsible for cleaning not only their classrooms, but the hallways at the end of each day," Haskins said.
Buying more than "just the basics" could be enough to rub some parents the wrong way. But others say if the schools are coping with cutbacks, they're ready to pend a few more bucks.
"I'm fine buying it," said Ali Feary. "I realize that budgets are tight and things like that. That's easy to get -- two rolls of paper towels? Not that big of a problem."
But some parents say they've already been told that once school starts, they'll most likely get another shopping list. And across the country, a few districts are telling kids to come to school with a batch of toilet paper and garbage bags.