Arkansas

Arkansas teachers feel financial burden of back-to-school season, regardless of raises • Arkansas Advocate

Published

2 years ago

August 6, 2024

Arkansas teachers feel financial burden of back-to-school season, regardless of raises • Arkansas Advocate

As Arkansas educators prepare their classrooms for students’ return this month, many will spend hundreds of dollars on materials that supplement supplies parents purchase for their children.

The Arkansas LEARNS Act, a major education overhaul championed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, raised the base pay for teachers to $50,000. But teachers say the pay increase isn’t enough when they still use personal funds for classroom expenses throughout the year.

Leron McAdoo, a teacher at Little Rock School District’s new Dr. Marian G. Lacey K-8 Academy. (Courtesy photo)

Leron McAdoo typically spends at least $300 of his own money each year on “utilitarian” supplies for his classroom, such as educational and motivational posters, electrical cords and tape to display student work. He doesn’t expect this year to be any different, especially as he works to stock a new classroom.

McAdoo, who has 32 years of experience as an educator, is taking on a new role this school year as an interventionist teacher at Little Rock School District’s new Dr. Marian G. Lacey K-8 Academy.

McAdoo said there is also a “hidden cost of teaching,” which can include buying students clothes or food if they need it.

“Actually reaching children is the fact that you have to be human and recognize and have empathy for the situations that the children find themselves in,” McAdoo said. “Are you going to let a child starve?”

The raises from the LEARNS Act aren’t enough when the money is going back to the classroom and not the teacher’s pocket, McAdoo said.

“Teachers are not making a lot of money in the first place,” he said. “So, any extra burden on them to add supplies — you wouldn’t ask that of a firefighter, you wouldn’t ask that of an attorney, you wouldn’t ask that of any other profession. …But teachers are sort of expected by society to fill these gaps with their resources.”

Innovative solutions

Arkansas school districts provide teachers with an annual budget to supply their classrooms, though the amount varies. The budget decisions are made at the local level, and the Department of Education does not track the data, spokesperson Kimberly Mundell said.

In Rogers, teacher Samantha Harp is gearing up for her third year in the classroom, and her first time teaching fifth grade. Harp covers math, reading, writing, science and social studies on her own, which can lead to a lot of necessary supplies.

Harp said she has about half of the supplies she needs for the upcoming school year by using items from her former third-grade classroom at a different district. And while the Rogers School District does provide Harp with some items she needs, she estimated that she will spend at least $500 to be fully prepared.

One of Harp’s primary goals is to create a welcoming environment that her students want to return to. She also aims to keep kids engaged with activities off of the computer.

Samantha Harp, a fifth-grade teacher in the Rogers School District. (Courtesy photo)

Grade-appropriate books, stickers for good behavior incentives and manipulatives like magnetic blocks, dice games and fidget toys for kids to utilize when their work is complete are all things on Harp’s shopping list before the first day of school.

“Teachers that have been teaching for more than five years, they have a lot of what they need,” Harp said. “But I’m still gathering all those things. I try to go on Facebook Marketplace or look at garage sales.”

The beginning of the year is especially difficult, Harp said, because she won’t receive her first paycheck until mid-September. By the end of the school year, Harp said she will likely put $1,000 of her own money into her classroom.

The raise from the LEARNS Act didn’t have much of an effect on Harp’s salary, she said, but she did receive a routine raise from her previous employer. Aside from helping stay afloat with the current economy in Northwest Arkansas, Harp said the raise wasn’t particularly helpful for supplementing extra supplies.

Cara Maxwell’s experience as a Pre-K teacher in the Springdale School District — which offered the highest starting pay in the state last year at $53,000 — is a bit different than those working K-12, she said. Her district typically provides about $500 to $800 for annual supplies, most of which Maxwell spends on items her students will consume during the year.

Cara Maxwell, a teacher in the Springdale School District. (Courtesy photo)

Even with the allotted budget, Maxwell chose to make an Amazon wishlist this year and post it online for people to donate to her classroom.

She listed items that will be used year after year in her room including pillows for a “cozy corner,” fluorescent light covers to soften the room and various toys like Play-Doh, dice and a child-sized wheelbarrow.

“We are given a budget every year; however, a lot of the things that I put on there aren’t typically things that I would necessarily be able to buy,” Maxwell said. “I wouldn’t be able to get everything. Some years I may need more supplies than others.”

Maxwell has been teaching for 10 years, and she said she is generally pretty comfortable when it comes to supplying her classroom with the necessary materials. She also typically participates in a grant matching program to further supply her room.

Parents’ role

Along with the cost teachers pay, most parents are also expected to send their children to school with fresh supplies for the year. According to an article published in The 74 last August that explored charity use among parents and teachers, the price for school supplies increased 28% from 2022. According to a study by World Remit, the average cost of school supplies per child in the United States last year was $229.

As Back-to-School Costs Soar, More Parents & Teachers Turn to Charities for Help

Vann Vaupel, a parent of two students who attend the Conway School District, said while his family is currently in a good financial position, it wasn’t always that way.

“We were struggling to pay our bills so an extra expense hurt — especially for things they never ended up using,” Vaupel said of past experiences. “We would wait until the last minute because the money just wasn’t there.”

The school supply list for one child attending third grade in the Conway School District totaled nearly $70 before taxes, according to a compilation of the products on walmart.com.

“By the time we went to the store almost everything was sold out,” Vaupel recalled. “We couldn’t get the colors of folders and such our kids wanted, which can mean a lot to a young kid. It broke our hearts. Also waiting until the last minute can mean you have to buy more expensive options because the budget ones are sold out. Being broke can be very expensive.”

Vaupel’s children in public school will be going into 10th and third grade this year. In addition to buying their necessary supplies, Vaupel said he plans to donate to teachers who have posted wish lists for underprivileged students.

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Arkansas

Drug Take Back Day returns to Arkansas this month; promotes safe drug disposal

Published

52 minutes ago

April 7, 2026

Press Room

Drug Take Back Day returns to Arkansas this month; promotes safe drug disposal

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — Arkansas law enforcement agencies are hosting their 16th-annual Drug Take Back Day this month.

The event is designed so that Arkansans can safely and anonymously dispose of any expired, unused or unwanted medications. Officials say they want to prevent opioid misuse, reduce accidental poisonings, protect waterways from contamination and keep communities safe.

Its set to take place on Saturday, April 25.

“Arkansas Drug Take Back Day continues to bring communities together in the fight against substance misuse, and we’re proud to play such a vital part in it,” said Kirk Lane, director of the Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership (ARORP). “We invite Arkansans to take a few minutes to clean out their medicine cabinets, drop off unneeded prescriptions and protect their families and neighbors.”

Arkansans destroyed 26,500 pounds of medication during the fall 2025 Drug Take Back Day. Since 2010, over 342 tons have been destroyed.

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There are more than 300 drop boxes that Arkansans can use year-round. You can find your nearest drop box by CLICKING HERE.

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Arkansas

Way-Too-Early Top 25: Ranking College Basketball’s Best for 2026-27

Published

13 hours ago

April 7, 2026

Press Room

Way-Too-Early Top 25: Ranking College Basketball’s Best for 2026-27

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — With the transfer portal reshaping rosters overnight and elite freshmen arriving every summer, projecting the next college basketball season has become an exercise in controlled chaos.

Still, a handful of programs have positioned themselves early as national title contenders through roster continuity, program consistency and coaching stability.

Arkansas will once again be in the mix, but its true preseason forecast will come once the portal is mostly wrapped up. Coach John Calipari knows what type of player he needs to add for his team to advance past the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 and probably won’t sleep a whole lot until he signs at least one major contributor in the paint.

No. 1 seed Michigan had a stellar run in its second season under coach Dusty May, who competes for a national championship against No. 2 seed UConn Monday night. He goes up against two-time championship coach Dan Hurley, who is looking to join elite company by winning his third trophy with the Huskies.

Which teams are best equipped already for next season? Here’s an early look at who can make a run in 2026-27.

1. Michigan

UConn Huskies forward Jaylin Stewart (3) possesses the ball against Michigan Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) in the first half during the national championship of the Final Four of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images | Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

The Wolverines absolutely make sense regardless of if they win a national title Monday night. May added a commitment from 5-star guard Brandon McCoy Saturday who projects to be a lead guard at the next level.

Key big man Yaxel Lendeborg will be a huge loss after being a critical piece to Michigan’s championship game run. Power forward Morez Johnson should return after averaging over 13 points and seven rebounds per game.

Another likely returnee is Trey McKenney, who played well as a freshman averaging 11 points and 44% shooting in the month of March.

1B. UConn

UConn Huskies guard Solo Ball (1) reacts after a made three point basket against the Michigan Wolverines during the NCAA men’s basketball tournament national championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. | Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Whether Hurley’s bid for a third title falls short, his brilliant coaching in the NCAA Tournament is worth keeping the Huskies near the top of all college basketball rankings.

Veterans such as Alex Karaban and Tarris Reed are seeing their eligibility expire while freshman Braylon Mullins could opt to enter the NBA Draft.

Veteran guard Silas Demary has been a nice addition from Georgia out of the portal this season and will likely return as the Huskies’ starting point guard.

3. Duke

The Blue Devils are set to lose the Boozer twins, but have signed capable replacements in true freshmen Cameron Williams and Deron Rippey, Jr.

Coach Jon Scheyer’s group will continue to run the ACC until anyone else decides to be up for the challenge. If he can find a way to keep Patrick Ngongba around for next season as his key big man, then there’s no reason to count out Duke as national title favorites once again.

Duke Blue Devils coach Jon Scheyer speaks with the media during a press conference ahead of the east regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena. | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

4. Michigan State

No one will ever doubt coach Tom Izzo’s ability to assemble a championship contender and he did just that with Coen Carr, Jeremy Fears and company this season.

With a top high school recruiting class and a couple of key portal additions on the perimeter, the Spartans will be Big Ten title contenders and earn a Top 4 NCAA Tournament seed.

5. Illinois

Coach Brad Underwood has made the Fightin’ Illini a raging success and nearly led his team to the promised land this season.

He discovered freshman wing Keaton Wagler before anyone else, and became a household name and potential lottery pick after arriving to school as aTop 150 prospect.

Lightning might not strike twice next year, but he’ll probably have another solid team built for a deep NCAA Tournament run. Sharpshooter Andrej Stojakovic and forward David Mirkovic are both expected to return after playing key roles in Illinois’ first Final Four run in two decades.

6. Arizona

The Wildcats were no match for Michigan in the Final Four and are likely going to lose key freshmen Koa Peat and Brayden Burries to the NBA Draft. Keeping veteran big man Mo Krivas and key wing Ivan Kharchenkov in the rotation is key.

Adding McDonald’s All-American MVP Caleb Holt won’t hurt either as the next great freshman for the Wildcats.

7. Arkansas

Coach John Calipari knows his biggest assignment will be adding a big man or two to round out his rotation. He has a three 5-star freshmen in Jordan Smith, Jr. (No. 2 ranked prospect, JJ Andrews and Abdou Toure coming in with potential key returnee Billy Richmond to potentially lockdown the perimeter.

Jordan Smith Jr during the McDonalds All American Boys Game at Desert Diamond Arena. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Arkansas fans are hungry to see their team get back to the Final Four and have been inching closer each of the previous five seasons.

8. Purdue

The Boilermakers are set to lose All-American guard Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn which will be hard to come back from for any team.

However, Matt Painter continues to reload with guys who often fly under the radar or lesser known on the recruiting trail out of high school. His next team may not be as talented, or veteran laden but should be fixtures in the Big Ten no matter what the offseason brings.

9. St. John’s

Arkansas guard Boogie Fland (2) and forward Billy Richmond III (24) fight for a rebound against St. John’s guard Aaron Scott (0) during the second half of a second round men’s NCAA Tournament game at Amica Mutual Pavilion. | Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

The Red Storm will find it tough to replace versatile big man Zury Ejifor, but if anyone can do so it’s hall of fame coach Rick Pitino. His team has been close to breaking into national title contention over the previous two seasons.

Pitino’s combination of Ian Jackson, Dylan Darling and Ruben Prey can give St. John’s a boost next season.

10. Alabama

Nate Oats has the Crimson Tide at a level never before seen in Tuscaloosa with at least a Sweet 16 or better finish in each of the previous four seasons.

Star guard Labaron Philon is probably headed to the league as a mid-first round prospect which leaves a gaping hole in Alabama’s rotation for next season.

Top 20 freshman guard Qadyden Samuels is potentially a solid replacement with a complete offensive skillset as a three-level scorer. If his length translates well to college, he can be an exceptional perimeter defender.

Oats will need to find a way to keep key big men such as Amari Allen and Aiden Sherrell around or pick up a couple out of the transfer portal to stay near the top of the SEC.

Alabama Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats looks on in the second half against the Michigan Wolverines during a Sweet Sixteen game of the Midwest Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center. | David Banks-Imagn Images

11. Iowa State

The Cyclones were on the verge of a breakthrough before falling short in the Sweet 16. Losing All-American Joshua Jefferson early in the tournament sidelined any hopes of coach T.J. Otzelberger leading his team to its first Final Four since 1944.

Iowa State will probably make a strong run in the portal to replace other key contributors. But one thing is sure that this program has staying power on the national scene.

12. Kansas

Kansas Jayhawks forward Justin Cross (25) is welcomed by Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self before the Sunflower Showdown game against Kansas State Wildcats inside Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas, on Saturday, March 7, 2026. | Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Each passing year it seems that the biggest question is whether or not coach Bill Self will return for another year.

He is, at least this year, but even with his exceptional recruiting skills and a deep portal budget, it seems like a slight nosedive has taken place since winning the national title in 2022.

Star freshman Darryn Peterson’s one-and-done stay in Lawrence certainly didn’t live up to the hype. Big man Flory Bidunga is currently evaluating his options, which shouldn’t give anyone a reason to rank the Jayhawks higher.

13. Iowa Hawkeyes
14. Gonzaga Bulldogs
15. Florida Gators
16. North Carolina Tar Heels
17. Louisville Cardinals
18. Wisconsin Badgers
19. Nebraska Cornhuskers
20. Houston Cougars
21. Providence Friars
22. St. Louis Billekins
23. Texas Longhorns
24. Auburn Tigers
25. LSU Tigers