Department of Information Technology Secretary and State Chief Information Officer Eric Boyette and Department of Public Safety Secretary Erik Hooks delivered school supplies today to D.S. Johnson Elementary School in Rocky Mount as part of a drive organized by Governor Roy Cooper.
Students received spiral notebooks, pens, pencils, dry erase markers and tissues to help meet classroom needs. Since 2008, state funding for school supplies has been cut in half, and teachers spend approximately $500 of their own money each year to stock their classrooms with supplies to meet basic instructional needs.
The supplies for today’s delivery were donated by employees of the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Information Technology and the North Carolina National Guard, in partnership with Communities in Schools of the Rocky Mount Region. Four schools, including D.S. Johnson and neighboring Fairview Elementary, will benefit from these supplies.
“It was an honor to deliver today, along with Secretary Hooks, supplies to student ambassadors on behalf of Governor Cooper's School Supply Drive,” said Secretary Eric Boyette. “These students showed great pride and energy, and we were once again reminded of the importance of our youth and how they are our future leaders. “
This was a part of Governor Roy Cooper’s School Supply Drive, in partnership with North Carolina Business Committee for Education, State Employees Credit Union and Communities in Schools of North Carolina. For more information, please visit https://governor.nc.gov/news/governor-cooper-kicks-annual-school-supply-drive.