Classroom Materials Get a New Lease on Life
By Alexis Ramos
Have you ever wondered what happens to books, manipulatives, and other classroom resources that school teachers and staff are no longer using? Through a unique partnership between the OCPS Surplus Department and the UCF Curriculum Materials Center, these materials can be repurposed.
The OCPS Surplus Department serves schools by collecting and disposing of unused and unwanted materials, equipment, and other goods. Once in the warehouse, the materials are sorted and inventoried to determine which items will be reused, recycled, disposed of or auctioned. Last November, leaders from the Curriculum Materials Center at the University of Central Florida approached OCPS with the idea that surplus textbooks and manipulatives may be useful resources
for Education majors at the university.
Thomas Chang, Senior Administrator in the Curriculum and Digital Learning department, and Chris Reed, Director of Material Management, developed a process to enable UCF CMC staff to come to the warehouse and select items for their “Big Book Giveaways.”
The partnership is a win-win – OCPS’ warehouse can reduce recycling fees and save money, freeing up warehouse space while also giving UCF students access to high-quality, educational support items free of charge.
The university has hosted four “Big Book Giveaways” since January and has donated materials valued at more than $600,000 to more than 1,000 students.
The event allows participants to go on a mini-shopping spree while browsing through tables overflowing with books, manipulatives and other educational materials. Feedback received from the students that have attended an event has been overwhelmingly positive. The giveaways help them establish libraries and fill their first classroom with the resources needed to make learning fun and engaging for their students.