Schools

School raising money for playground equipment

Schrader Elementary is scrambling to collect $30,000 by Dec. 1.

By MICHELE MILLER, Times Staff Writer
Published October 3, 2007

Schrader Elementary is letting students, parents and businesses paint tiles for a $10 a piece. Afterwards the school plans on mounting the tiles on a mobile wall that will be pushed around the school over the coming years.
	[David Degner | Times]

ADVERTISEMENT [David Degner | Times] Zack Johnson, left, puts finishing touches on his tile as first-grader Tucker Tasson, 6, looks over his shoulder. [Julia Kumari Drapkin | Times] The old playground equipment was condemned and wrapped in yellow caution tape in May, then torn down before the start of the school year.

NEW PORT RICHEY - It's one of those impossible kinds of feats, and Chris Schnapp pretty much knows that. Still, she and her cohorts in the Parent Teacher Organization at Schrader Elementary are giving it a try.

Their goal is to raise $30,000 by Dec. 31 to buy new playground equipment for intermediate students. The old stuff was condemned and wrapped in yellow caution tape in May, then torn down before the start of the school year.

So why the rush?

If the school puts in the order by Dec. 31, installation and shipping are free. And if they have half the cash in hand before that, there's a chance to apply for a matching grant from the playground manufacturing company.

That's a substantial savings, Schnapp says. "And we'd like the fifth-graders to be able to enjoy the new playground this year before moving on to middle school next year."

It's a lofty goal, but then again, this is all about the kids.

It always has been for Schnapp, PTO president and mother of second-grader Jacob, even though her tote bag says, "Stop me before I volunteer again."

"I have a hard time saying no," she says.

With volunteers like PTO vice president Melanie Gurney, Schnapp has brainstormed plenty to organize fundraisers like the annual Fall Festival. That can be a headache - particularly when the balloon drop she planned didn't pan out as it should have.

"I pulled the rope so the balloons would fall," said Schnapp. "And the rope broke. Here were all these excited kids waiting underneath - and nothing."

Still, the money raised then helped pay for field trips for students who couldn't go other-wise, sets of classroom books and Scholastic Magazines, a postermaking machine that's used by all the teachers, math and science nights, ice cream socials, holiday food baskets for the school's needy families, and all those school T-shirts that were doled out to every single student during the past school year.

Typically the PTO raises money to pay for those kinds of educational enhancements but nothing nearly as costly as this.

"It was real sticker shock," said Schnapp.

It's a dilemma, for sure. Especially for a Title 1 school that's 34 years old.

The school does have two playgrounds that are suitable for younger children, but right now there's nothing but a couple of old jungle gyms and one moss-covered live oak for shade for kids in grades 3 through 5.

"There's just no money in the budget for this," said principal Mary Stelnicki.

But recess is an important part of learning - particularly when the state mandates that kids get that extra 60 minutes of physical fitness.

So these days kids, faculty members and parents at Schrader are kicking in some coins for the Playground Penny Jug and paying $10 each to take part in a tile-painting project that eventually will become a permanent mural at the school. A few local businesses have helped by kicking in donations for the school's "money tree" that hangs on a wall just outside the media center. Others have coughed up some cash for kids who can't afford to pay to paint a tile.

The grand total - $3,214.

So far.

Donations sought

Schrader Elementary is seeking donations from the community to defray the cost of playground equipment for intermediate students. People and businesses who would like to help or have any fundraising ideas should call Chris Schnapp or Mary Stelnicki at (727) 774-5900. Donations can be mailed to Schrader Elementary School Playground Fund, 11041 Little Road, New Port Richey, FL 34654.

To learn more

Donations sought

Schrader Elementary is seeking donations to defray the cost of playground equipment for intermediate students. People and businesses who would like to help or have fundraising ideas should call Chris Schnapp or Mary Stelnicki at (727) 774-5900. Donations can be mailed to Schrader Elementary School Playground Fund, 11041 Little Road, New Port Richey, FL 34654.

[Last modified October 2, 2007, 20:37:50]