Lack of tissues s’not a problem

Tissues are used daily in almost every classroom, but what happens when teachers run out of tissues?

The Panther Press conducted a survey of students on Nov. 19 to determine where they thought the tissues in their classrooms came from. With 106 student responses, 74 said they think the tissues come from the teachers, 15 said they are supplied through students, and the other 17 believed the school provides the tissues.

On the same survey, 78 students said they use tissues the most during winter, 26 students said they use mostly during the fall, and two students said they do not use tissues.

A separate survey was given to teachers on the same day. With the 34 teacher responses, 29 said they supply their own tissues. The other five said they do not supply their own tissues, citing the expense as a reason.

The teachers that supply their own tissues for their classroom said that they go through around 10-15 boxes of tissues per school year.

Principal Mr. Andrew Rantz said teachers obtain their basic school supplies (pencils, staplers, and sticky notes) through Keystone Purchasing Network, an ordering site for schools to order mass amounts of school supplies. However, tissues are not included in the Keystone Purchasing Network, Mr. Rantz added.

He said tissue boxes can be supplied by the school nurse whenever teachers are out of them. He added that there is no limit to the amount of tissues given to teachers by the nurse.

School Nurse Ms. Lois Buck said in her years at Milton, not many teachers come to ask for tissues from her. She added she has her stock of tissues for students to use, but when the teachers ask for some, she gladly supplies them.

Ms. Buck said that she receives three cases of approximately 24-26 boxes of Dehart’s brand of tissues a year. She added that the tissues come from the nursing budget every year.