Second Presbyterian Church

The Following is a Letter from Berclair Principal, Sam Shaw.

To those among us who love children and literacy:

This year’s school supply drive for the students and teachers of Berclair Elementary has taken on significance far beyond our past needs.

The City of Memphis and Memphis City Schools are involved in litigation over funding. Our state of Tennessee will withhold approximately ½ billion dollars, and our federal government will also withhold millions, on October 1, if Memphis does not restore their funding to the district. The dispute is centered on an interpretation of state law regarding school funding. I feel all of us can speculate what could happen October 1 if the litigation is not quickly resolved.

Consequently, most spending and hiring in the city schools are frozen. We have been told that some of the funding for direct classroom support has been restored. However, it may not be enough. Therefore the materials you collect for Berclair may not be supplemental to our literacy efforts, but fundamental.

Your past efforts at Berclair have born fruit in many forms. Nevertheless, the fruit born of good works is often difficult to see. Today we have an exception. We have been informed that Berclair has passed the state’s high-stakes testing, the TCAP, for the fifth consecutive year. I share this with you since I believe your prayers, time, and material support directly contribute to our students’ academic success.

I wish to thank you for your past and present efforts of supporting literacy for Berclair students. It is a wonderful work when you give to a child in need, who can never pay you back, nor know what you did. The only earthly reward you might receive is if you come to Berclair and hear the children laugh, see them write, and watch them read.

Dr. Sam Shaw, Principal, Berclair Elementary School

For more information on the Berclair Supply Drive, or contact the church office at (901) 454-0034.