Students in the East Side Union High School District are being held back by the current Amazon purchasing policy. Right now, schools can only spend $2,000 a month of our own student body funds on Amazon. The money is there, but we aren’t allowed to use it. ASB, who organizes school-wide events, hits that cap within days, and then clubs, athletics, and other programs are left waiting weeks just to order the supplies they need.

Amazon is the most practical and reliable way for schools to order things. A lot of what we need for events, clubs, and sports isn’t even available in local stores. Amazon is cheaper, faster, and has way more options which is exactly what’s needed when planning time-sensitive events or ordering equipment. Without it, student groups are stuck paying higher prices, waiting longer, or just going without.

This isn’t just inconvenient, it hurts student life. Clubs, sports, and ASB are the heart of high school, giving students chances to build leadership, teamwork, school spirit, and community. But with the current cap, these groups can’t even buy the basic materials they need, even though the money already belongs to us.

And it’s important to remember: this policy doesn’t save the District a dime. These are student body funds, raised by students by attending sports games, dances, and other events, specifically to support students. The cap just makes it harder for us to use our own resources, forcing clubs and sports to cancel events, cut back programs, or compete with each other for spending space.

That’s why we’re asking the District to raise the Amazon spending cap to $10,000 per school, per month. This would actually reflect the real needs of our schools, give every student group fair access to their money, and allow ASB, clubs, and sports to continue creating the events and programs that make high school memorable.

Sincerely,

Arya Kumar Choudhary

ASB Executive President

Santa Teresa High School