Dolton 149 Superintendent, Aides Purchase Washer, Dryer to Launder Middle School Basketball, Cheerleader Uniforms

(Calumet City, IL) – Unknown to Dolton School District 149’s relatively new school superintendent in 2016 was that the coaches at the south suburban district’s middle school were quietly hauling post-game basketball and cheerleader uniforms to their homes to launder because the school had no washer and dryer.

“I found out last school year that the coaches were taking the cheerleaders’ and the girls and boys’ basketball uniforms home,” said Superintendent Dr. Shelly Davis-Jones. “When I found this out, my heart was so touched, and I felt, like, how noble of them. They did it all year and never asked for a dime; they never complained about it.”

Still, Dr. Davis-Jones and her top aides decided it was the district’s responsibility to furnish laundry equipment for washing the basketball team and cheerleaders’ uniforms at Dirksen Middle School.

“What we wanted to do was to help them so they wouldn’t have to go to their homes and use their own machines,” said Dr. Davis-Jones. “We wanted to help the district with acquiring a washer and dryer so that we can make sure that when our kids are cheering or playing games that their uniforms are fresh and clean when they are representing the district.”

Dr. Davis-Jones, who assumed her post at the start of 2012, said that the district initially had sought a donation from Maytag through the company’s charitable “E Care Program,” but that it had already reached its annual contribution cap.

“We tried to go through the Maytag E Care Program, but they had given out their quota for the year; they said they would help us next year, but, next year for us is too late,” said Dr. Davis-Jones. “So, we just decided to share this venture together financially for the district and make this donation on behalf of the students in our school district community.”

Dr. Davis-Jones; Dr. James Cunneen, the district’s financial advisor; district Business Manager Cedric Lewis; and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Denita Scott will donate the $2,500 to the district to purchase a Maytag 5.3 cubic ft. washer and an 8.8 cubic. ft. dryer to support the district’s extracurricular programs. The machines are slated to be delivered to the school in August just as students return for the new school year.

Dr. Davis-Jones has extended her personal gratitude to her colleagues.

“I want to recognize and thank Dr. Scott, Mr. Lewis and Dr. Cunneen for coming together with me to purchase the washer and dryer for the middle school,” said Dr. Davis-Jones.

Dolton 149 school board President Darlene Gray-Everett heaped praise on district’s top administrative leaders for their “generosity.”

“The extraordinary individual generosity of the superintendent and the district’s other administrative leaders reflects their profound and personal commitment to the well-being of the district’s students,” said Gray-Everett. “I am proud and thankful for their devotion to the children that they serve.”

davidormsby@davidormsby.com