WATERLOO - Parents used to picking up classroom items when buying their child's school supplies likely will have less in the shopping cart this fall.

Waterloo Community Schools has created uniform supply lists for elementary school students in 2009-10. In past years, individual schools determined their own supply lists. As a result, students at some schools were asked to bring items such as dry erase markers, copier paper, snacks and zipper bags.

Those items are out next fall, trimming down the supply lists to basics like crayons, pencils, glue sticks, markers, scissors and pencils. The lists still vary by grade level, but not between schools.

"What we're trying to do is really make it easier for families," said Michelle Temeyer, the district's director of community education. "There was large variation in past years."

She noted that the district is required to provide a free public education to students. "Our intent is if it's needed for instruction, it will be provided."

One way of accomplishing that is through the Back to School project. Organizers collect donations of money and supplies, filling a bag with school- and grade-specific items for each student who signs up.

"Our work is going to be a lot easier," said Larry Orth, who heads up the annual effort with his wife, Ruth. "But I'm very concerned about the teacher and what it's going to do for the teachers."

"Our intent is not to shortchange teachers in any respect," said Temeyer. In the meantime, Orth said his organization has items that can no longer be included in the bags of supplies.

"We have more than 4,000 dry erase markers," he said, for example. Organizers will figure out other ways to give away the supplies, like having teachers choose items for their classrooms.