Hi. We are in a brand new school this year that split from a school because of size. We had a guideline because we had all been part of the PTA at the other school but the needs were so extremely different. We pay for the ribbons and trophies for science fair, awards day. Stamped post cards for each teacher to send a child a comment card just to be nice or reward. We have a writing program for children that the local university does each year and we give one kid out of each grade a scholarship to go. We buy the AR prizes. We are trying to fund an audio-visual program so that our students can put on a news show every morning. We paid for speakers and prizes for Veterans day and red ribbon day. We like to do a wish list at the end of the year and we give the principal an amount and he polls the teachers and takes the majority vote on what to purchase. Good luck! Melinda

We give funds to all our teachers including art, music, resources, ELP, etc. All the teachers need extra money to purchase supplies and special learning materials not covered under the ever shrinking budget so we don't skip anyone. Our principal also gets some money to use at her dicretion for items not covered in the budget. This has been everything from materials that can be used by all teachers to medicine for a child whose family was in financial crisis(sometimes there are things that need to be done to help a family in a very confidential manner).

As for the rest of the programs we sponsor, we plan those out at meetings. Some are things we have done for years and some are brand new. I would suggest that you put together a list of programs and events that the PTO members would like to see at your school and then look at the cost associated with each. You know about how much money you will be raising, so you can then see which programs will fit within that sum of money.

We are a K-4 school, around 400 students
Some things on our annual budget are:
Music and PE $1000 each (used at the teachers discretion for supplies)
Library $500 for general, $750 for RIF, $1800 for accelerated reading program (incentives, tests and books)
$150 for each certified teacher (not other wise covered in budget)
$650 for awards generally used by the counselor for grading period awards, red ribbon week, etc and another $100 per grade for grade level awards
Money for field trips-$100 per classroom
$400 for birthday bags give to each student on bday
$750 for our reading lab, which covers reading recovery,

Now in the past things we have paid for that are not in the annual budget are keyboards for our music program, major playground equipment, resurfacing a track we have on our playground, new basketball court, pavillon with picnic tables, benches for playground, trees, grass etc.

Our principal generally raises her own money thru candy sales, pictures, etc. She uses that for various things that we are not always aware of--I think a lot of building and grounds improvements. We have our annual budget which, for the most part, covers the same thing year after year--changes made for additions and subtractions, and amount changes by the budget committee. But we encourage teachers and staff to bring other requests and needs before the PTO. Usually when someone asks for something worth while they are not turned down, of course assuming the $ is there.

Does your PTO give the Principal an amount of money to spend (like $500)? Do you give your Guidance Dept. a fund to spend ? Do you buy things for Red Ribbon Week (like buttons, ribbons, etc.)? Do you fund a "No TV Week" ? I am still trying to gather info to help plan our budget for next year. The same budget seems to just be repeated year after year ! Some of us want a change !! I'd love any ideas you wish to share !! We are a K-5, 500 students.
P.S. Do you give money to the Music classroom, Art, Library, ESL, Reading Recovery, E.D., L.D., E.M.H. ? We currently give $150 to each classroom even though all students have a home room.
As you see I need help !
Thanks !! Judi
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