Jenn R is right on with the spending. we buy things like Accelerated reading books and tests for the media center, an microphone system for the gym, a new paper cutter for the teachers, atomic clocks for every classroom in the school, so everyone is now on the same time, and things that benefit everyone in the school. We give the teachers a budget every year for supplies and they can turn the reciepts in to use and we will reimburse them. this helps us ensure the money is going directly to where it should, not that we don't trust our teachers, but you are better off covering your tail than having to go back and making excuses and apologies. we also help sponsor Arts Alive in the school, where the art and music teacher have centers, the whole day is learning art and music and the kids move from room to room based on their grade level, and is really such a great day! With art and music budgets being limited almost everywhere, maybe helping fund some of that would be a good thing. We also "sponsor' a family or two at christmas that other wise may not have anything. We have no knowledge of who the children are, the school gives us a list the parents have come up with, and we make the purchase along with a gift card to kroger for a food supplies. One year we bought a ham but the gift card is better becuas ewe have such a wide range of cultures in our area.
I can't imagine getting to put that much money back into the school! how awesome for you!
Yall are very blessed to have that much money. I know I came from a school with that much money, however, the school that Im the president of this year is starting out with 360.00 We have 1200 middles schoolers. I hope to do my best, however, its hard when you're trying to raise money for toilet paper. So when times are bad think of the ones that dont have. What's really sad is the children suffer. All because the state budget.
I guess I'm confused about the original question - how to spend the money? Do you have a budget with line items already established? I thought that is how PTO/PTAs operated. Isn't that how you figure out where the money goes? Each summer, our board creates the budget - the line items are pretty much the same - we just decide how much is allocated to go in each line item. Then it's approved by the general membership. This is how we are held accountable for the money we raise. We can't spend more on each line item without membership approval - this is according to our bylaws. If at the end of the year, we have "left-over" funds, then we bring ideas to the table - ask the principal and teachers their wish list - and then vote.
We believe that the kids are who needs to benefit from the money raised. Most of our budget directly benefits the kids as a whole. We sponsor special events, bring in cultural arts performances for all grade levels, science camps, holiday gifts, etc. We also sponsor the 5th grade party, an end of year party for the safety patrols, buy t-shirts for the school choir, purchase items for the health fitness and art rooms, etc. We also give towards our parent center, bring in special guest speakers on various topics, give money to the school nurse, the library, buy RIF books for all the students (3 times a year), and help pay for teachers to go to special workshops (scholarships based on some criteria). We host two staff luncheons each year and give the staff gifts on certain holidays. We've purchased landscaping and benches for the front of our school and have begun working on a beautiful art garden for all classes to enjoy. We purchased a rock wall that was installed in our gym and a heart difibrilator for our nurse (we are the only elementary school in our city to have one). This might save a life. There are too many items to list - but it has all made the school even better.
Our budget isn't a huge one - about $13,000 to $15,000 a year. We spend all but $1,000 for carry over each year.
Anyway...that's how we spend the money - but it is all planned out ahead of time with an approved budget and in writing.
Another thought. Our schools would never divulge the names of needy kids, but our PTO has asked that teachers discreetly ask kids who don't normally participate if they'd like to attend our events as their 'buddy'. The teachers let us know how many kids want to participate but can't, and we hook them up with tickets.
It's a pretty cool way to spend some money and support kids who actually appreciate it and wouldn't get to participate otherwise! Plus the teachers love it too.
Some PTO's fund school positions, like a school nurse.
How are you going to account for the money that is 'given' to the teachers to make sure that they don't spend it on a vacation or a comfortor set? This is actally a huge time investment to just give money to the teachers, as it requires getting reciepts back and re-imbursing (if you want to be accountable for what they're spending on).
Our board really prefers to fund large projects that affect all of the kids. Think about the media center/library (furniture, books, decor), P.E. Department (inflatable obsticle course for inclement weather), Art Department, etc. Those areas generally don't get direct parent support at the elementary level, as most parents give to their childs classroom and overlook these departments.
We also give to host cultural arts programs in school, artists in residence programs (the one last year did a tile mural with the kids that was installed in the hallway)
Display cases (to promote your sales items/prizes)
Technology....
Free family events...
a locking on site storage shed for the PTO stuff...(actually a money saving measure if it's managed well!)
PTO software, which is an awesome investment...
Parent Welcome Kits...
don't just spend it all on crayons and wet wipes for crying out loud!
I would give your Teachers say $100 each in or around July before next school year starts to use on their classrooms..we do that each year.
I would also meet with your Principle and ask what are their priorities...not nessasary to tell them how much money at this time. Survey the teachers. I would make the effort to have an impact on as many students as possible at one time.
