Couple things to say:
#1. That's sad.
#2. Anyone here watch the movie "Here Comes the Boom", with Kevin James? How he decides to compete in MMA to save the band program for Henry Winkler, because the tax money is all going to Football fields and new jersey's for the Sports teams? It's a super movie, and I encourage you to watch it. I was astounded (having worked in a Public School setting, and going to college for it) about how accurate it all was. Right down to the teaching attitude some teachers have from plain old BURNOUT alone!
#3. I get crayons, markers, pencils, paper, folders, binders, stickers, and erasers every year from my MIL at the end of every school year. This is stuff that has NEVER been used! They give you a list at the beginning of every year, yes? "Hey, make sure your kid brings crayons, markers, blah blah blah..." and lemme tell ya...they don't get used!!! I have them. At home. In my closet. I usually keep the used boxes of stuff and the opened packets of paper, but for "Back to School" I donate back the same stuff from the previous year that some parent bought, thinking it was prudent to their student's success.