Scratch for schools

PONDERAY —How many Lottery scratch tickets could you scratch in five minutes?  

For teachers from 18 schools in the region, the answer Wednesday determined how much money they could raise for their school as part of the Idaho Lottery’s 10th annual edition of Scratch for Schools.

During the event, Workman said more than 8,000 tickets were scratched with Priest River Junior High teacher uncovering tickets worth $438. The top school in Sandpoint won $275 through the event.

All told, the 18 school won $3,481 during the Scratch for School fundraiser, Workman said.

In addition to Wednesday’s event in Ponderay, the Idaho Lottery will hold a second Scratch for Schools event in Post Falls. All told, Idaho Lottery public information specialist David Workman said 180 teachers and staff from 58 public schools were scheduled to take part in the event.

“It’s the fastest five minute fund raiser for Public Schools in Idaho,” Workman said in a press release.

Staff from each participating school — many of whom dressed to show their  school spirit — received 300 “Class Act” lottery ticket. The mass scratch-off saw teachers, principals, and school staffers scratch furiously for 5 straight minutes.

The top school each day wins and scratches 900 lottery tickets and all schools keep all their winnings from all their tickets.  

This year, more than 410 schools — 54 percent of every public school in Idaho — are slated to participate in one of 10 Scratch for School events.  Last year,  participants across Idaho claimed $88,000 in winnings for their  schools.  In northern Idaho last year, schools claimed over $22,000  in winnings, Workman said.