GENTRY, AR – The Gentry School Board has endorsed a plan to fully implement the district’s “Ready Day One” program, providing school supplies to all Gentry Public Schools students at no cost beginning in the 2026-27 school year. The Board’s unanimous vote came during its meeting Monday night.
The initiative ensures that all students will have the necessary supplies on the first day of school and that families will no longer need to gather supply lists and shop for materials before the school year begins. It also ensures that students receive the teacher-recommended, high-quality supplies needed for learning, rather than lower-quality alternatives that may not be as effective in the classroom.
“Public school was never intended to be a financial drain on parents and families, and we’ve been exploring ways to continue being a student- and family-first school district,” Gentry Superintendent Dr. Tyler Broyles said. “The Board has always shared this vision, and we’re thankful for the decisions and partnerships that are making this program possible. Most importantly, we’re all excited to provide this benefit to the students and families in our district.”
This school year, the district piloted the program at its Primary School, providing supplies at no cost to kindergarten, first grade, and second grade students. The pilot showed that students arrived on the first day ready to learn, each with the same high-quality supplies and brands, creating a more level playing field. Teachers also reported spending less time addressing supply shortages and more time focused on instruction from the start of the year.
The program also allowed the district to partner more intentionally with local organizations and churches to support Gentry students and families. In the past, well-meaning organizations hosted general school supply drives. “Ready Day One” enables those groups to direct their contributions toward specific, identified needs within the district.
The full initiative is expected to cost approximately $60,000. Local community organizations have already made significant contributions toward that goal, including Tucker Chiropractic’s $15,964 gift to fully fund supplies for Intermediate School students and $5,000 from Arvest Bank to support the program. Additional organizations have expressed interest in contributing.
At Monday’s meeting, the School Board agreed to cover any remaining costs not met by local contributions. Broyles noted that if additional funds are not needed for supplies, budgeted dollars may be redirected to other back-to-school priorities. The Board also expressed interest in making “Ready Day One” a permanent initiative following a review of the program during the 2026-27 school year.
Board members also discussed the program’s financial value to the district and community. By purchasing supplies in bulk, the district can reduce overall costs while still providing high-quality brands — such as Crayola crayons, Elmer’s glue sticks, and Ticonderoga pencils — rather than lower-cost alternatives. This approach allows the district and its partners to provide all required supplies at a significantly reduced per-student cost.
This year’s pilot program provided more than 12,000 pencils, 1,000 boxes of crayons, 2,800 glue sticks, 560 pocket folders, and a variety of additional supplies, including dry-erase markers, notebooks, and Play-Doh for kindergarten classrooms. The program was overwhelmingly positive and well received by families and teachers, prompting Broyles and the School Board to expand it districtwide for next school year.
“Great things are happening in our school district, and programs like ‘Ready Day One’ demonstrate our commitment to our families and students,” Broyles said. “We expect next school year to further show why Gentry is a destination school district for families across our region.”