Box Tops for Education

Who decides how to spend the money?

As a parent, I have never read any information sent home from the school(s) how the money was spent. The check is sent to the school. Does the coordinator decide? Is there a board? PTA/O? Just curious to know.

RE: Who decides how to spend the money?

Not completely sure, but it probably differs from school to school. I would just contact your school's boxtops coordinator and ask them, and I'm sure that she/he would be happy to tell you.

RE: Who decides how to spend the money?

In my school, I and my contact in the Principal's office get together and discuss suggestions and then they in the Principal's office make the final decision. Our first this year was a safety program that they can continue to use for years.

I'm hoping to make enough during the 2009 - 2010 year to buy the rest of the 1st grade classes their reading time rugs.

Tyler..

RE: Who decides how to spend the money?

we put it into the pto fund and then teachers give us a lsit of things they might need and we vote on that

as for the reading time rugs have you thought of going to a carpet place and see if they will dontate old sample squares and that way each child has a different one, most place have samples form several yrs back

just a thought

RE: Who decides how to spend the money?

For my elementary school, all the Box Top money goes into the general PTA fund which is then used for all the different PTA sponsored programs and activities throughout the school.  This makes sense since the students and teachers are the ones that submit Box Tops so it should go back to everyone.

Fortunately, as the Redemptions Program coordinator, I get a budget to work with each year so the Box Top money is also used to fund this.

I TRULY enjoy being the "Box Top lady" at my school!! 

Kathryn

RE: Who decides how to spend the money?

I agree that the monies earned from the program, go back into the classrooms. I would like to think the teachers actually have a voice in this. I would not be for funding dinners or luncheons for the staff. Kids should see the benefit in the rooms.

Great idea on the carpet rements btw!

RE: Who decides how to spend the money?

At our school, the money goes intot he PTA accounts and the officers together with the Principle decide what it is to be used for. This year we are purchasing additional playground equipment for the K-2 playground as well as new surfacing material for the playground.

RE: Who decides how to spend the money?

I agree that I don't want the BoxTops to be funding luncheons or (shudders) in class parties.That's why I refused to be coordinator last year. The PTA treasurer wanted to use the money for tshirts and pizza parties.

My philosophy is that this money earned by students, teachers and parents, should go toward the purchase of things that can be used for the long term, not just fun for a day

RE: Who decides how to spend the money?

I agree with that.  What a waste of charity.  The money should go to things that actually help kids, not just wasted on parties.  How selfish!  Better books, educational fieldtrips maybe, help shoring up the depleted athletic or music departments.  Sick thing is, they probably spent the money on party food all from General Mills, completing the circle of decodance and greed.

RE: Who decides how to spend the money?

There are two of us that took on the job as box top coordinator.  We keep track of each student who brings in box tops (we have a contest...the top three earn a gift card at the end of the year) and who their teacher is and which grade level.  Each grade level then decides how to spend their pot of money.  Some choose to break it down by who has collected what and some use the money to help fund field trips, grade level projects or books for their classrooms.  It is up to each grade level.  The only thing we require is that it is used for the benifiet of the students. 

I know our class used the money we earned to pay for a bus for a feildtrip to the Strawberry Farm.  We invited 2 other classes to go with us.  This saved the parents a lot of money and gave us the oppurtunity to go on another trip because of it.