Covid-19 has impacted many school procedures and events throughout the course of the 2020 school year. One major impact towards schools, especially Durant, is the county budget. 

With fewer students on campus because of eLearning, school funding has been decreased throughout the county. Many problems have arisen due to this lack of budget, one lesser problem including the copy budget for teachers 

The institution of coronavirus procedures has created a need for students to get their own individual copies, not to be reused or shared with another student, when teachers decide to pass out tests or worksheets. This forces an increase in paper usage and numbers of copies needed for certain teachers.  

“What we used to copy in like a 25 [copy] class-set shared between two teachers is now turning into… close to 200,” according to Sociology and American History teacher Jackie Thompson.  

Despite this growth in copies, technological adaptations have also made their way into teaching methods this year as well. With the addition of Canvas this semester and other technology back in April and May, teachers have learned to utilize more online resources and phase out a lot of the paper usage in their teaching methods.  

This transition has somewhat balanced the increase in copies and the lack in change in budget. With more teachers going digital, paper increases for some teachers are counteracted by paper decreases with other teachers.  

“I think we’re still copying about the same now that [we] were when we [had] all 2400 kids… here,” says bookkeeper Cheryl Shaffner.  

However, come January, administration may see a greater financial stretch if e-learners are unable to come back to brick-and-mortar classrooms. With an increase in students coming back to school, comes an increase in Durant’s funds, however, a decrease in students will result in a decrease in funds. 

“It’s [the] reality of the times we are facing, but I think it’s reflective of a larger societal problem and how we fund education as a society as a culture,” says Thompson.  

Despite the challenges that arise because of Covid, Principal Gary Graham is focused on supporting the teachers with whatever they need to properly educate students. “This year it may be copies, next year it may be incentives, the following year it may be… something else from a technology standpoint.”