Some Central Florida school districts are passing the costs of some unique items to parents, according to a Problem Solvers investigation.

The report featured Diana Hubbard, who is shopping for three children with school-issued lists that get longer and longer every year and include requests that don't much make sense to her, the report said.

Hubbard's school list showed Ziploc bags, Clorox wipes, paper towels and paper napkins.

"It's a lot of money shelled out for things I feel like I'm grocery shopping for," Hubbard said.

"Diana is not alone," Alvarez said. "We looked over dozens of lists and found items most would not consider school supplies."

The listed included requests for liquid hand soap, hand sanitizers, Plug-In refills, toilet paper and Band-Aids.

"Then there is the activity donation fee for supplies not provided through the school," Alvarez said.

"You just wonder where is the money going?" Hubbard said. "What are they spending money on?"

The Problem Solvers took Hubbard's question to the chief financial officer for Orange County Schools, Henry Boekhoff.

Boekhoff said he had no idea teachers were asking parents for anything other than basic school supplies.

"Have you seen some of these lists?" Alvarez said.

"I haven't seen them personally, no," Boekhoff said. "Somewhere there's a communication breakdown when we prepare the budget in that these items haven't been mentioned."

Boekoff said when principals present their budget requests, the focus is on teacher salaries and money for more staff.

In fact, 85 percent of the estimated operating budget for the upcoming school year will go to salaries and benefits, the report said.

The rest of the estimated $1.4 billion will go to utilities, textbooks and supplies.

"That translates into almost $7,000 per child," Alvarez said. "But remember everything from teacher salaries to utilities are included in that figure."

John Young Elementary School Principal Regina Ponce said it doesn't leave much room for supplies.

"Do we have things that probably don't belong on the list?" Ponce said. "Yes."

Ponce admitted that when it comes to supplies, most schools are asking more from parents and less from the district.

"The reason goes back to the bottom line -- to keep and attract more teachers. Salaries are the priority," Alvarez said.

"Anytime parents can help us with the less expensive items then that's where I want to spend the bulk of the tax payer money," Ponce said. "Because those parents are taxpayers and they appreciate "A" schools and quality teachers."

Hubbard said she feels frustrated that her tax dollars don't cover things like erasers for dry erase boards.

"The list is asking parents to bring in old socks and T-shirts to use instead," Alvarez said.

Alvarez also showed a list asking parents to purchase 10 glue sticks with a classroom of 30 children.

The principal said that items these this go into a reserve because getting them from the warehouse where the school district keeps its supplies could take up to a month.

"So it's clear, when you shop, you're not always shopping just for your child," Alvarez said.

She said if parents are fed up with the cost, they are urged to speak up at budget hearings.

---

There are several upcoming budget hearings for the new school year. Those dates include:

Lake County on July 24 at 5:30 p.m.

Seminole County on July 25 at 5 p.m.

Volusia County on July 25 at 6 p.m.

Brevard County on July 27 at 5:30 p.m.

Orange County on July 31 at 5:30 p.m.

---

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.