Local solicitor general helps collect $18,000 in school supplies

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — A local solicitor general thinks making sure students have supplies on the first day of school will keep her from having to prosecute them later.

Clayton County Solicitor Tasha Mosley is used to getting her hands dirty around the courthouse.

But now she's adding some muscle and money to a back to school supply drive aimed at not only helping needy students, but helping keep them out of trouble.

“If I can keep the kids in school, I think we can keep them out of the system,” she said.

Mosley spearheaded a supply drive that paid for some $18,000 worth of school supplies.

Channel 2’s Tom Jones was there Wednesday afternoon when crews unloaded supplies at Charles Drew High School.

Mosley said she's seen too many kids get in trouble because they don't have supplies, while their classmates do. She hopes the giveaway will change that.

“Those children won't be mad and disruptive in school and they will learn and that will help the teachers teach,” she said.

Clayton County Schools Superintendent Luvenia Jackson agrees that disruption in classrooms is sometimes the result of students not having the supplies they need.

“This helps with all of those kinds of emotional problems you might see,” Jackson said.

“These resources are very valuable for these students,” said science teacher Chanikka Brown.

Brown said a lack of supplies can also put students behind academically.

“I’ve had students to come to me and say they have to wait to their parents get paid before they can get these resources and it can be weeks,” she said.

The school supplies will be picked up by all the schools and handed out to students who need them.

School starts next Thursday and teachers said they will be teaching on that day, so it's important for students to have these supplies.

WSBTV