We used most of our proceeds from last year to buy the school a new laminator. The one we had was at least 20 years old, so you can imagine all of the problems they were having with it. To laminate something, you needed 2 people: one to push the paper through, the other to pull the plastic! So, we decided that was definitely a priority this year. We also help to pay for Weekly Readers for the teachers, we buy every child a Christmas present (we usually spend under $1 per child), we provide teacher appreciation week gifts and food, and basically just kind of vote from year to year on what we want to spend the money on. We also provide a $100 scholarship to a graduating senior who attended our elementary school. Another thing we did this year was to provide dinner for our teachers during parent teacher conferences. Our teachers were required to remain at the school until 8 p.m., and they REALLY appreciated us bringing them dinner. Get together with your principal and ask what they would like for the school. I hope everything works out well for you!

We fund raise to cover the budget. All money is deposited and as the budget items are done, we pay for them. This includes field trips, arts and enrichment programs, supplies, scholarship, all fun activities, hospitality, gifts, cash handouts to teachers to name the basics.

In the past we've used money to bring authors to school, pay for assemblies, field day. We pay for a monthly celebration for the kids who do their work and behave, we give teachers money for field trips. This year, because of budget issues, we've given teachers money to buy school supplies, text books and other necessary items. We also fund a "Student/Citizen" of the month program (students get a book as their prize.)

i am new to the pto and need info on the things the pto should spend the fundraiser
money on. we as a group disagree and i want
to know the basics. thanks