Exhibit 99.1

                   CERTIFICATION OF PERIODIC FINANCIAL REPORTS

I, David J. Vander Zanden, Interim Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief
Operating Officer of School Specialty, Inc., certify, pursuant to Section 906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

     1.   The quarterly report on form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 27, 2002
          (the "Periodic Report") which this statement accompanies fully
          complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
          Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)) and

     2.   information contained in the Periodic Report fairly presents, in all
          material respects, the financial condition and results of operations
          of School Specialty, Inc.

Dated: August 29, 2002



                                          /s/ David J. Vander Zanden
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          David J. Vander Zanden
                                          Interim Chief Executive Officer,
                                          President and Chief Operating Officer