Back-to-school fairs & tax holiday
Mark this Saturday, Aug. 4. Organizations on both sides of the state line will offer immunizations, physical exams, backpacks, school supplies, community resource information and more for urban students at no charge. And Saturday is part of Missouri’s tax-free weekend for some back-to-school purchases.
In Missouri, the nonprofit Kansas City Public Schools Education Foundation is holding the 2018 Summerfest. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Board of Education Park, 2901 Troost Ave. in Kansas City, Mo. It’s held annually to help ready Kansas City, Mo., children for the new school year.
Families will be able to enroll and meet principals and teachers. Health professionals will be on hand to administer physical exams and required immunizations. Children who are pre-registered will receive a complimentary backpack, school supplies and T-shirt. There will be live, family-friendly entertainment as well as snacks and activities for various ages, such as face-painting, a bounce house, arts and crafts, wall-climbing and more.
Parents or guardians must bring children to receive the complimentary supplies.
The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority will provide rides to Summerfest from Central High School, East High School, Manual Career and Technical Center, Northeast High School and Southeast High School. Admission is free, but registration is required. Register online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2018-summerfest-tickets-45652245094#tickets.
In neighboring Kansas City, Kan., a pair of organizations will conduct the 2018 Wyandotte County Back to School Fair. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at KCK Community College – Main Campus at 7250 State Ave., in KCK. The Center for Community Health and Development and the Community Health Council of Wyandotte County organize the annual back-to-school fair to help lighten the financial load for KCK families.
Children will be able to get eye exams and glasses, dental screenings, health and sports physicals, vaccinations and haircuts at no charge. Students receiving vaccinations are asked to bring their immunizations cards. Student athletes needing a sports physical should bring the Pre-Participation Examination form in order to receive a physician’s signature. Complimentary backpacks, school supplies and snacks will be distributed, and there will be information about community resources.
The fair is open to students in Wyandotte County in both public and private schools. Parents must provide proof of residence in Wyandotte County, and they must bring their children to receive the complimentary supplies.
Missouri’s annual tax-free weekend starts at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 3 and runs through Sunday, Aug. 5. The purchases of select back-to-school items are tax-exempt. They include backpacks, classroom supplies, clothing, computers and peripheral devices, and graphing calculators. The purchases of non-school-related items in Missouri this weekend are still subject to tax.
Some city and county governments and districts have opted out, meaning that they will still collect sales tax on school-related purchases. Claycomo, Riverside and Smithville; and the Crowne Plaza Community Development District, Independence
Events Center Community Improvement District and Westport Plaza I Community Improvement District are among state municipalities and districts not participating in the tax-free holiday. See the complete list online of cities, counties and districts that opted out and more information at https://dor.mo.gov/business/sales/taxholiday/school/. Kansas doesn’t have a back-to-school sales tax holiday.
