By Nikki Dowling

ndowling@riverdalepress.com

For many children, going back to school brings nervousness and apprehension as they ponder upcoming tests, new teachers and homework. But many local parents and teachers are worried too. Growing school supply lists and a shrinking budget are leaving many wondering how they are going to afford the necessities.

“It’s very expensive,” Sharon Parker, who was shopping at the Staples on Broadway for her four children, said. “Everything is really going up except your pay.”

To make matters worse, some schools are asking students to bring in items that can be expensive. The Bronx High School of Science requires eleventh graders to buy a scientific calculator as well as the more typical stapler, staple remover and pencil sharpener, pocket thesaurus and dictionary.

Nonetheless, there are ways parents and teachers can lessen the strain going back to school puts on their wallets. Throughout the summer, many of the basics like paper, crayons, pencils, glue, backpacks and markers go on sale at office supply stores. Maryalice Blackmore, who lives in Riverdale and teaches at MS 180 in the Bronx, said she started thinking about buying school supplies at the beginning of the summer and watched sales carefully, relying mostly on Staples and Target stores.

Ms. Blackmore said she got only $80 for classroom supplies, which is the amount given to part-time adult-education teachers by the City Council. Full-time teachers get $110. Ms. Blackmore went to Staples numerous times when pencils were on sale for a penny. She did the same with cheap composition notebooks at Target.

“I’ve been watching the sales all summer,” she said.

For those who recently started shopping for school supplies, there are still plenty of upcoming bargains. Through Saturday, Sept. 4, eight-packs of pens and bottles of glue will go for a penny each at Staples. Scissors and notebooks will be on sale for $.50. Target is running sales on school uniforms and fall clothing, with some items selling for as little as $5 each.

But for some parents, especially those with multiple children, even price-slashing deals don’t offer much relief.

“When you have a lot of kids [the deals] doesn’t work,” Ms. Parker said.