Tired of running to the board every time they wanted to buy something, Boxford Elementary Schools (MA) decided to take money matters into their own hands. The Boxford Elementary Schools Trust (B.E.S.T.) was founded in 1996 as a nonprofit educational foundation, and it began by giving every teacher a $50 mini grant. Since that time, B.E.S.T. has contributed nearly $200,000 to its public schools, not including the results of its recent Touched by Technology campaign, launched in 2006, which raised $180,000 over two years to fund laptops and interactive SMARTBoards for the elementary schools. B.E.S.T. continues its mission to fund technology, professional development, and in-residence educational programs.
