Our district - along with so many others - is facing huge budget gaps. We have had to cut 15 million dollars this year, which will result in reductions all over the district.

Often times the arts are the first areas to be cut. To make up for theses cuts, I have been writing projects for Donor's Choose. Donor's Choose is an online giving site for teachers. Classroom teachers write project requests for classroom supplies and the projects are posted on the Donor's Choose website: http://www.donorschoose.org/. 

I have had twelve projects funded and one is up on the site now. Today, teachers need to find creative ways to get the materials they want if districts are unable to fund those requests.

(Karen Roberts is a member of Newburgh Teachers Association)