A few years ago we received a playground grant from Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC). Their grants are typically $5000 but we actually received $10,000 (long story). We stressed that we were very rural and it was for the community not just the school. We also made sure to meet all ADA guidelines. Not sure if they still do these grants, but check with the manager at your local McDonald's or check for the RMHC offices in your state.

Re looking for grants in a rural area.
I am the president for our also very rural group,and we are also raising money and going after grants for a playground. So far we have a few we are looking into. Our super just applied for a LOWE'S grant online, the safety base we would like is made of recycled materail and our rep. informed me to look up state matching grant for the purchase of recycled materails and sure enough their under the dept.of waste management. I also suggest calling local busness they sometime give small grants for the aid of local projects. Ask your playgroud equipment sales rep also they can be very helpful with these thing for your area. Good Luck!
Peaches

where did you find information on grants for playgrounds? We are trying to raise money to get new playground equipment. We need grant help because we live in a rural area with limited resources.

Not that it matters what the superintendent’s issue is, but it isn’t related to safety or legal concerns. Her main problem is that the district currently has a very touchy relationship with the maintenance department- we have had a few buildings and grounds incidents where their union was brought in to mediate or file grievances. While we wouldn’t ask the department to help us with the project, the ultimate/legal burden for maintenance lies with the district (even though our group is great about taking care of anything we add to the grounds). She feels that even if this project doesn’t really add to their workload in maintaining the grounds, it will be a philosophical problem, and she doesn’t want inflame an already sensitive relationship.

Actually the Superintendent does not make the rules and have final say, the Board of Ed does.
You say that you did this with the consent and knowledge of the Principal. The Principal really dropped the ball when he/she did not advise you to get BOE approval or get BOE approval for you.
I would advise the Super (just so you do not sideblind him and make him even angrier) that you are going to go in front of the BOE to inform them of the grant, apologize for not seeking their approval first, and to be advised by them what to do with the grant now.

When you go in front of the BOE I would tell them you meant no disrespect and were just ignorant of the proper protocal and that you should have approached them for approval to do this. There may be very good reasons and state regulations you are not aware of as to why the super gave you different ideas then what your grant asked for. The BOE should be able to inform you of anything that is not okay and why and be the final say on what is okay. If the BOE alters what you planned the grant for then I would contact the company who gave you the money and notify them. Chances are good that with valid reasons for changes (such as state regulations) the company will not mind and will not take the money back. Just chalk this up to a lesson learned and you now know you need approval to do things of this nature as ultimately you could have unknowingly did something that was not within regulations and the school could be sued if a child was injured.

A few years back, I had some issues with things I saw going on in our school, and in the process of making my complaint heard, I learned the chain of command in our district. What I learned is that I am supposed to get things ok'd by the Principal, when she isn't available, I am to discuss items with the Asst. Principal, who can advise me according to the issue. The Principal is to take things she and I discuss to whoever in the district approves whatever our topic is. Essentially, if I were in your situation, I would have been in the wrong to discuss anything with anyone other than the Principal without her setting the meeting. It is her responsibility to follow through with her end of things that she gives me approval for. Is it possible that your principal needs to contact your super and attempt to smooth this over? If you still can't get anywhere, I would consider gathering some supporters to take our position to a district board meeting before I gave the money back. Good luck.