Archive: Business & Technology

Can you fix America’s schools for $1,000? The college town of Ithaca, New York, thinks so.  The city’s visitor bureau is testing the thesis in January with a $1,000 giveaway of classroom supplies to state teachers. The promotion draws attention to Ithaca’s annual Winter Recess teachers week, but its real impact is demonstrating how community involvement is key to helping schools succeed.

“In all the debate about school reform, community involvement is the one thing everyone agrees on. That's what Winter Recess is all about and this giveaway is a direct outcome. Visiting teachers told us they needed it. It’s a small gesture, but we’re hoping it’s big enough to make other communities take notice and say, ‘what can we be doing?’”

For the past five years, Ithaca’s Winter Recess has offered state teachers a week of special events and deals during the February school break. This year’s dates are Feb. 18-27. The event was created to thank teachers while boosting winter business in the Upstate college town. But with 5,000 teachers and family members expected this year, Winter Recess has grown into something more, Bonn said.

“A special week like this, with thousands of teachers in town, it gives us all a chance to listen and learn and find out what we can do to help,” Bonn said. It puts us all on the same side of the debate.”

The $1,000 giveaway is open to all state teachers and school district employees. The winner will receive a $300 Staples Gift Card to purchase classroom supplies, with the winner’s school receiving $700 worth of Staples Gift Cards. The drawing begins the first week of January, with a winner announced Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14. Details are online at IthacaLovesTeachers.com.

The need for classroom supplies came directly from teachers who attended Winter Recess in the past, Bonn said.

“It was a clear need they identified to us,” Bonn said. “Not only are teachers devoting their professional lives to our kids, they’re spending sizable sums out-of-pocket. Obviously $1,000 isn’t going to change things for everyone, but if it gets other communities thinking, it’s money well spent.”

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