In the face of less funding for the Oak Harbor School District, a woman stepped up with a creative way to help teachers.

As Superintendent Rick Schulte and the Oak Harbor School Board work on budgeting for next school year, they have to reduce the Building Maintenance, Supplies and Operating Costs section by more than $750,000. This money funds all types of supplies classes use, including copy paper, colored pencils and markers. Schulte asked teachers and principals not to spend money on supplies until Congress decides if cuts will be made to federal Impact Aid during the school year.

When Christine Still heard that teachers won’t be able to purchase supplies for the next school year, she decided to take matters into her own hands. When her ninth-grade daughter, Elise Still, came home from school talking about the problem, “That’s when I decided to ask the school if I could donate some supplies,” Christine Still said.

She recently held a mini supply drive among the Parent-Teacher Association members and collected a few large boxes of supplies.

“For me, at the school as a parent and participating, I thought this would be a small way I could help,” Still said.

The problem she faces now is collecting supplies during summer vacation. Since her family likes to participate in triathlons and marathons, including the recent Deception Pass Challenge, Elise Still plans to participate in the challenging Benaroya Research Institute Seafair Triathlon July 22 to raise funds for the supply drive.

Donations of school supplies are welcome at the Oak Harbor School District office, located at 350 S. Oak Harbor St. If you leave your name and phone number with the donation, you’ll be entered to win a $50 gift card to Seabolt’s in August.

For information, call 279-5000.