Estill County School Board will provide all school supplies

He new school year is just around the corner, and soon, parents across the Bluegrass will be hitting stores with their yearly school supply list.

But, not in Estill County.

GETTING READY FORA RETURN TOSCHOOL NEXTMONTH ... CAN NOWCHECK SEVERALEXPENSIVE THINGS... OFF THEIR LIST.ANGIE:THE DISTRICT WILLBE PROVIDING FREESCHOOL SUPPLIESTO ALL K THROUGH12 STUDENTS.LEX 18'S SOFIAMILLAR TALKED WITHTHEM ABOUT WHYTHEY DID IT.THE NEW SCHOOLYEAR IS JUSTAROUND THECORNERSOON PARENTSACROSS THEBLUEGRASS WILL BEHITTING STORESWITH THEIR YEARLYSCHOOL SUPPLYLIST.BUT NOT IN ESTILLCOUNTY.THE BOARD OFEDUCATION WILL BEPROVIDING ALLSCHOOL SUPPLIESFOR EVERY STUDENTTHIS YEAR.JEFFSAYLOR/SUPERINTENDENT, ESTILLCOUNTY SCHOOLS:"WE WANT TO BEABLE TO MAKE SURETHAT THIS IS ONEBURDEN WE CANREMOVE FROM YOURPLATE."SUPERINTENDENTJEFF SAYLOR SAYSFAMILIES HAVEFACED ENOUGHFINANCIAL BURDENIN THE PAST 16MONTHS BETWEENTHE COVID-19PANDEMIC ANDHISTORIC FLOODINGTHAT WRECKEDDEVASTATIONACROSS THECOMMUNITY.JEFFSAYLOR/SUPERINTENDENT, ESTILLCOUNTY SCHOOLS:"IT'S A SMALL PART,BUT IT'S JUST AGESTURE TO OURFAMILIES TO SAY,'HEY.

WE KNOW.

WEUNDERSTAND.

WECARE."THE DISTRICT ISALLOCATING 65 TO 70THOUSAND DOLLARSOF FEDERALFUNDING TO BUYINGTHE SUPPLIES.DONALD NORTON ISIN CHARGE OFOVERSEEING THEDISTRIBUTION.HE SAYS THIS WILLREMOVESOCIOECONOMICBARRIER FROM MANYFAMILIES.DONALDNORTON/DIRECTOROF PUPILPERSONNEL: "I KNOWTHAT MANY FAMILIESIN ESTILL COUNTYARE VERY PROUDAND THEY MAYSTRUGGLE WITHCOMING TOSOMEBODY ANDSAYING THAT WENEED HELP.

WE AREHOPING THAT THISWILL BE A WAY TOSAY, 'HERE'S HELPWHETHER YOU ASKFOR IT OR NOT.'"ESTILL SCHOOLSWILL NOT RELEASESUPPLY LISTS THISYEAR.INSTEAD, STUDENTSWILL HAVE ALLSUPPLIES PROVIDEDTO THEM IN CLASSON THE FIRST DAYOF SCHOOL.IN ESTILL COUNTYSOFIA MILLAR LEX 18NEWS.DIA:THEY ARE SOME