At a time when public school systems are facing ever-dwindling budgets because of an ill-concieved funding structure, it’s exciting to see the level of public and charitable support our schools do receive to help “fill in the gaps.”

Such an event that is filling a need is the upcoming Back to School Bash brought together by school officials, municipal agencies, charitable organizations and businesses.

This program seeks to increase the level of participation on the part of parents and community members into the education progress, discuss essential topics such as bullying and gangs and provide students with a few of the basic items needed to succeed in the classroom and in life.

Over the past few weeks, we have seen organizations lead school supply drives and hand out backpacks, notebooks and pencils.

And it is this kind of effort, this kind of support that offers a glimmer of hope that we can — as a society — support an education system that is both fiscally responsible and provides the results we expect and need from the next generation.

Years ago, the thought of asking children to bring cleaning supplies, copy paper and glue sticks to help stock the classroom would have been calls absurd.

No longer is it absurd, rather it is a necessity and an everyday occurrence.

The tax structure currently in place to support our public school systems is admittedly ineffective and only hurts the education of our children when the economy slows down. Such is the case the past few years when state budgets have been cut, cut again and cut even further.  We applaud the efforts of the groups and individuals coming together for the Back to School Bash and commend all of those who have found a way to chip in and support our children’s education.