Since 2003, students have been buying workbooks in the school store, and using them to complete class work, supplementing their learning, or doing their homework. But as of Dec. 9, 2024, a new policy has been adopted, making workbooks free district-wide.
Moving forward, only elective class workbooks will cost money. “The school board approved that schools, not just Creek, are not allowed to sell or charge for core classes,” Bear Necessities Coordinator Beth Adolphi said. “It’s an equity issue so that all kids have access.”
According to official board policy, students will still be charged for lost, damaged or defaced books, except those who have financial needs.
The main reason for the policy change is because of those needs. Ultimately, the financial struggle some students face can impact their ability to purchase workbooks each semester. Prior to the policy change, there was a form that students could fill out so that they wouldn’t have to pay for workbooks. To be able to do this form, students had to meet the free lunch requirement. To qualify for that, students’ families income have to be less than 130 percent of the federal poverty level.
Students also reported, while able to pay for books, the overall process of needing to pay for workbooks was frustrating.
“I never had an issue with buying textbooks but it was annoying, $5 here, $5 there, it adds up throughout the years,” senior Lana Nokochi said.
An issue that will still be seen without the new policy is the problem of not having enough workbooks for students.
“Typically when workbooks run out of stock in the store, it’s because teachers ordered enough for enrolled students,” Adolphi said. “If originally 180 kids were going to take Algebra, and then after level changes 20 of them dropped, those 20 books are gone.”
Students like the policy because it can help them financially. “There are some textbooks that are $30, some that are $3, but for those $30 textbooks that some students can’t afford, I think that will really help them out,” senior Divian Mudley said.
Math teacher Kent Dertinger is happy about the change, though he worries about the funds that came out of income from workbooks. “I think that it is wonderful for students to have access to the class materials free of cost,” Dertinger said. “However, the cost of the printing is being passed on to the school departments which is thousands of dollars to absorb in the departmental or school budget.”
