Stock the School gives every student an equal start

Published 1:30 am Tuesday, August 11, 2026

The Chautauqua PTO exists to support the Vashon Public School community: our students, our families and our teachers. Over the last few years, we’ve been looking for new ways to broaden that support. Stock the School, our pilot program for the 2026-27 school year, is the fruit of that hard work.

The goal of the program is to purchase school supplies for every student at Chautauqua, regardless of their ability to pay. Instead of every family shopping the supply list on their own, the PTO is ordering supplies in bulk for every Chautauqua student through a company called School Tool Box. Kits arrive prepacked, labeled with each child’s name and delivered directly to their classroom before the first day. Families who are able purchase their child’s kit through the Chautauqua PTO website, and pricing ranges from $29 to $72 per student, depending on grade level and whether families choose to add a classroom donation.

For teachers, Stock the School means walking into a stocked classroom on day one instead of unpacking 25 individual shopping bags, tracking down missing items and covering gaps out of pocket. That’s hours of their time back and a smoother first week for everyone. For families, it’s a simpler summer and a lower supply bill. For students, it’s the confidence of starting the year with everything you need and on the same footing as your peers.

The program is simple and inclusive for all families. This is a whole-school commitment, and equity is the driving reason. When supply programs are opt-in, they typically reach about half of families. That means classrooms start the year with visible gaps between the kids who have what the teacher asked for and the kids who don’t. Whole-school changes that. Every Chautauqua student walks in on day one with the same supplies as their classmates, and we know that the teachers are supported and provisioned with everything they need to start the year off on the right foot. The PTO negotiated bulk pricing with our supplier, and we are passing those savings straight through to families at cost. Most families will save about 20% compared to shopping retail, plus no sales tax, and get their summer supply-shopping time back.

Making the whole-school commitment a reality requires two things. First, the PTO is using existing funds to backstop the program so no child is left out, regardless of their family’s payment status. Second, we’re asking families who can pay to please do so. Family purchases are what keep this program viable for future years, and they’re what will let us keep expanding the equity commitment. If you’re a Chautauqua parent reading this and you haven’t ordered yet, please visit supplies.vashonpto.com and place your order.

We’ve also built in ways for the wider community to support the program: the Pay It Forward fund, which lets any donor cover supplies for a Chautauqua student whose family needs help. Any contribution is helpful, and the commitment starts at just $10. This fund is open to Vashon community members who don’t have a Chautauqua student but want to invest in one. If you’re a grandparent, a neighbor, a retiree or someone who cares about making sure every kid on this island starts the school year ready, we would be grateful for your contribution. You can donate at supplies.vashonpto.com without ordering a kit.

We have already received incredibly positive feedback from parents, teachers and the school community. We are hoping that this program is successful and can be continued in the coming years and expanded to the middle school and high school as well. Thank you, Vashon; we are so grateful and proud to be a part of such a special place that invests in the education of its youngest citizens.

Megan Wilkes serves as Treasurer and Fundraising Committee Chair of the Vashon Parent Teacher Organization. She is a parent of two children in Vashon Public Schools and a volunteer in the broader Vashon community.