Looking for ideas: 25k for elementary school project

[konapoppy]

What are some ideas you have for ways a school to use about $25k in funds? Can’t be used directly for salaries or staffing. Think some type of improvement for the school, technology, staff appreciation, supplies.

Any ideas come to mind? It can be for smaller amounts too!

[secretagent]

We had games painted on our playground for recess this summer. It was a few thousand (more than I expected) but should last for many years. Hopscotch, a big map, a few other games I am not familiar with but supposedly the kids and/or gym teachers know.

[loira]

We are in a minority language setting so our school often uses funding to pay for special sports or cultural workshops for the kids in French. If your school has a language program, or is even a jr high/high school with optional language classes, it can be great for those kids to do activities in that language and actually use it while, for example, learning to make tiramisu in Italian.

[noodleoo]

First thing in my mind was playground improvements. Our school recently redid the playground and it is a huge improvement over the horrible, old one they used to have. The whole project was more than $25k but even some new swings or a new basketball hoop would be nice if needed.

Our school also recently replaced several water fountains to the type with bottle filler, which is nice since everyone has water bottles these days.

Improved seating for the library? Supplies for the science department? We have a STEM program and the science center does workshops for the kids using coding robots, my daughter loved that! They have a set and travel to all the schools.

I also feel like if you asked the teachers they could come up with something communal that needs updating pretty easily.

[redpenmama]

Sharing some things our PTA has funded or discussed funding in recent years:

- Technology upgrades (smartboards in classrooms, projectors, upgraded A/V equipment for assemblies/performances
- Recess kits for all classrooms to upgrade indoor/outdoor recess supplies
- Facility improvements (new playground equipment, rock-climbing wall in gym for PE)
- Supplementing cost of field trips to reduce financial burden on families

[ssmjlm]

Create an outdoor classroom.

Shade structure, tables, etc.

[konapoppy]

Nov 11, 2024 12:39:31 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

I also feel like if you asked the teachers they could come up with something communal that needs updating pretty easily.

They have been asked just crowd sourcing some ideas too!

[tacokick]

The elementary school near here is trying to start a bike bus (https://momentummag.com/what-is-the-bike-bus-movement/) and the costs were surprisingly high because they wanted to be able to supply bikes to “bus” drivers and help kids with bike and helmet costs.

They also have a school wide garden that took a ton of money to build from scratch between things like a shed, tools etc. There is even hoop garden so they can grow in the cooler weather.

[InBetweenDays]

Our elementary school's big fundraising efforts (when our kids were there) were playground improvements, wiggle chairs/sensory seats, and redoing a courtyard so classes could use it.

[niq]

The last big physical things at our school were
* an outdoor bulletin board for announcements
* improvements to the preschool playground
* school garden equipment and maintenance

Field trip funding always goes over well.

[UMaineTeach]

Definitely on the playground. Ours is too babyish. This leads to injuries because of using equipment in unintended ways and playing aggressive ball games on the field.

Because they are bored.

[UMaineTeach]

Nov 11, 2024 14:32:38 GMT -5 UMaineTeach said:

Definitely on the playground. Ours is too babyish. This leads to injuries because of using equipment in unintended ways and playing aggressive ball games on the field.

Because they are bored.

We have funding for most everything else or got it with Covid money.

[maudefindlay]

Pay off lunch debts if you aren't in a free meals school.

Stock a closet with free clothes/shoes/socks/undies for kids.

[jennistarr1]

I would think about accessibility needs to and see if there are improvements that could be made there

[macmars45]

My school desperately needs more paras. We are running on a very thin margin currently. If anyone is out sick and doesn't get a sub (like me on Friday) it severely disrupts the day as far as services kids receive and recess/crosswalk coverage. 25k would pay for one FT para (we get paid poverty wages).

[MDmomof2]

Our elementary school raised money for a climbing wall in the gym. Apparently it's a big hit and it's nice that kids can literally climb the walls when the weather is bad!

[mccallister84]

25 k is not going to go far for any playground upgrades.

What about a communication board for the playground? Do classrooms need new projectors? New furniture for the art room? Does your county have a mobile science lab or something that will come to the school? Sensory seating for the classrooms?

[awkwardpenguin]

Our school built a little free library for the kids and stocked it with books for all ages in English and Spanish. It's not a $25k project, but it was definitely a few thousand worth of books because getting donated books in Spanish is tough. (We are a dual language school)

We are a very socioeconomically diverse school, so I imagine we'd spend it on meeting some educational or other needs of the students. Books, supplies, and scholarships for field trips and extracurricular programming all come to mind.

Edited to add: I also gave to a Donors Choose for "flexible seating" for the special education classroom. Wiggle chairs, wiggle pads, that sort of thing.  I can find the supply list if that would be helpful, but I imagine the special ed teachers would know the needs.

[Poeticxpassion]

Our school asked for a new walkie talkie system. We also did playground games on the blacktop, new baseball hoops, new 3 in one game that was installed in a concrete, and indoor playground carts for each class.

My favorite was getting a list of specifics from each teacher and putting together a special gift package with a handwritten card.

[gretchenindisguise]

One of my favorite things our pta does is pay for school supplies for the teachers. Kids don’t need to go back to school shopping or buy anything, except maybe 1 binder.

Teachers put in their orders directly with the pta.

[twinmomma]

When I was on the PTA, we funded playground upgrades. It included new basketball hoops that can be raised and lowered so that they can be used by big and little kids, a gaga pit for gaga ball, a wall ball set up so that the kids stopped throwing balls at the school walls, and new toys/equipment. Actual climbing structures will cost a lot more, but there are definite upgrades that can be done without replacing an entire structure.

[redheadk]

When I was active with elementary PTA, some higher cost things we did were:

- a new marquee for the school (BS but the district will only pay for a basic one with no messaging abilities)
- a library update with new paint, seating, interactive boards, collaborative learning spaces, and $$$ for books
- shade structures and seating for the playground. Our district installed an incredible, accessible playground that is burning hot when it’s hot outside and we live in Texas so that is like half the year.
- ClearTouch boards for some classrooms. That’s a long story.

[redheadk]

Nov 12, 2024 10:31:11 GMT -5 gretchenindisguise said:

One of my favorite things our pta does is pay for school supplies for the teachers. Kids don’t need to go back to school shopping or buy anything, except maybe 1 binder.

Teachers put in their orders directly with the pta.

This is a great suggestion. I started a reimbursement program when I was president, we reimburse teachers for supplies up to a certain amount. We will also purchase for them if they prefer but nobody has ever taken us up on that. We normally do $100-150 a year, depending on how much we can allot to it. It is a HUGE hit and lets teachers get what they need and will use.

[formerlyak]

Flexible seating in classrooms.

[livinitup]

Is it coming from a funding source with any rules or guidelines (like PTA). Does it need to be spent by a date ? 12/31 or 06/30 ? Can you save it (and grow interest) until next year or down the road ?

Don’t buy colored t-shirts for each grade level. My DD was nit a fan.

I would probably split it among the front line teaching staff (with children registered to their class or program). How many would that be and how much cash would they each get?

I might consider a 1 time distribution for something a big chunk of front line teachers do/attend outside of contract hours.

I would also consider meeting a salary shortfall (so, a 1x bonus) for ancillary positions like bus drivers and cafeteria cooks, etc.

[stemmie]

Our middle school got a grant for mountain bikes to be used in the adjacent park for gym classes. The elementary school started an organic garden and outdoor classroom one year and got a climbing wall another.

[glitzy07]

We had someone make a large donation to our school the last two years and they've used it to fund school supplies for all classrooms, so we haven't had to provide anything for my elementary aged son except a backpack.

[konapoppy]

Nov 12, 2024 15:05:38 GMT -5 livinitup said:

Is it coming from a funding source with any rules or guidelines (like PTA). Does it need to be spent by a date ? 12/31 or 06/30 ? Can you save it (and grow interest) until next year or down the road ?

It is reserves we have. No timing guidance, but we want something that will add value (or multiple things).

[minzy]

I would look into becoming Green School certified (or your state’s equivalency) if the school is not already doing that. Maybe do a compost program, install a pollinator or vegetable garden, rain barrels, plant trees, etc. IIRC you’re in a different part of the country but here’s what the guidelines are in my state: dnr.maryland.gov/education/Pages/greenschools.aspx

[konapoppy]

Thanks for all of the ideas!