In response to the district's deepening budget woes, Commerce Lexington, Central Bank, Keeneland, and Darren and Kristen Turner have pooled resources to create what they're calling the Classroom Essentials Fund. The goal is to help teachers buy classroom supplies through an online platform.
Luther Deaton, CEO of Central Bank, said, "The most important thing we got in this city right now is our students and we cannot, and our teachers, and we cannot, the teachers cannot afford to do all this. So we've got to step up to the plate and do it."
Equity Solutions Group founder Ray Daniels explained how the program will work.
"The initial phase of this initiative will provide $125 per teacher for essential classroom and instructional needs. Emails went out this morning informing the teachers of how to get on the platform, how to make purchases, and the platform will actually show them their balances in real time," he said.
The first purchasing window runs through August 20th with a second opportunity planned for January.
Daniels said teachers who have already purchased supplies are still being encouraged to utilize the funds.