We have a surplus too this year so we have asked our principal if she had suggestions. With all the budget cuts I'm sure your principal can come up with ideas. She asked us to send a few teachers to conferences, our school budget doesnt have funds for that so we are helping out in that area. The teachers then come back to the school and share their ideas with the rest of them.
Some of the things we have bought in the past movie projectors, risers for the stage(very outdated) movie screens, book shelves for the library.
Our PTO doesn't save surplus money because the funds raised by the kids should be used for those kids.
Cindy
Cindy<br />
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<br>"People have the right to be stupid, but some abuse the privelege."
Make sure every classroom has working computers, if not then buy them.
Get a digital projector for family movie night, teacher guided group projects.
Appropriate all your surplus money and take a year off of fundraising.
Fully fund a family fun night - carnival.
Do your best to make sure the benefit of the money raised impacts every child.
How fun is it to have a surplus [img]smile.gif[/img]
I can't believe your teachers didn't come back with something. We always ask the teachers for lists-preferably with grade level needs so there isn't just one class benefitting. We also ask our principal and school nurse if they have any needs.
Don't forget those family nights! They can be educational too!
We are saving for a couple of years for a fully-equipped science lab. It will have microscopes and all other equipment for experiments. Teachers will be able to bring their students in and use the lab instead of doing science in the classroom.
We have a special problem. Instead of the tight budget - we have lots of money this year. We're looking for some ways to spend it. We have a new playground so that's only a last resort to add to.
We have had a few parents request the money go more towards educational programming of some sort. They feel there's more than enough out on the playground. We put a feeler out to teachers and didn't get too much of a response last month.
Everyone here does such great things I thought I'd put it out there!!!
