By Kathleen BergerRecord Staff WriterSammy Long, 11, is earning big bucks by just going to school.Sammy gets a buck for each day he attends Rebecca Boone Elementary in Warrenton. The fifth-grader earns another “dollar” for each day he is well behaved. His principal says he’s raking the bucks in — two bucks a day.[See video here]But the buck isn’t a U.S. dollar, it’s a Boone Buck to be spent in one place only, the Rebecca Boone Trading Post.Sammy spent 60 Boone Bucks on clothes and brand new athletic shoes that he proudly put on, posing for a picture with The Record, as he explained why he chose to purchase clothing.“Because in my house we don’t have a lot of money, so we’re struggling to get shoes and new clothes,” said Sammy. “So I came here to buy stuff that I need.”Sammy said his parents will be happy with his choice.“They say ‘I hope you get really good stuff because we can’t afford it’,” he said. “So I try to get as much good clothing as I can get.”That’s exactly why the Rebecca Boone Trading Post was created.Following the lead of a school in Springfield, Rebecca Boone Principal Jill Schowe identified a need to provide basic necessities for children in her school. In addition to clothing, those necessities include toothpaste, toilet paper, soap, shampoo, hair accessories and food.Defying Poverty“We define poverty in the public school by free and reduced lunch. My percentage is just above 70 percent, which is significantly higher than the other elementary schools,” said Schowe. “They are not second-class citizens. They are here to learn. And they can’t learn if their basic needs aren’t met.”Sammy and every child attending Rebecca Boone started earning Boone Bucks at the end of 2013, in anticipation of the school store’s grand opening in January. The Rebecca Boone Trading Post is a school store that has a little bit of everything a child may need. It’s a store that places more focus on needs than “wants.” In this store wants come with a higher price tag than needs.For example, the few toys or other wants sold at the store may cost more than what some students can afford. If a child wants one of those items badly, the student would have some tough choices to make including saving up their Boone Bucks.Students have time to accumulate their bucks, because the store is strictly open during the last week of every month.Teachers at Rebecca Boone say most students are making smart choices.On Thursday, Feb. 27, kindergartener Jaidyn Freed checked out at the store counter with an electric toothbrush, a small box of cereal and a book.“We need this stuff. This is to help you read,” said Jaidyn. Pointing to the cereal and toothbrush, she added, “This is healthy, and this is to clean your teeth.”Jaidyn’s kindergarten classmate, Cole Carmean, bought warm winter clothing.“Because they’re needs,” said Cole.It’s a simple lesson that got the attention of the Rotary Club of Warren County.“Rotary was really interested in the part where we’re teaching students economics. We’re trying to teach our kids how to save money, to distinguish wants versus needs,” said Schowe. “Because these are businessmen in our community, they see this as a way to impact our community, making this a better place to live years down the road.”For that reason, the Rotary Club gave the school $1,000 startup money to purchase new and used items to stock the store. More donations have been coming in through word of mouth.“One lady called and gave us $300,” said Schowe. “And all she wanted me to buy was little girls underwear and socks. And she said ‘when you run out, call me and I will give you more money’.”Principal Schowe is always looking for good deals. The day before the store opened in February, she bought 51 pairs of new shoes from Walmart.“They were brand new from Walmart, on a clearance aisle for $2 and $3 a pair,” said Schowe.School volunteer Joan Shelton stocked shelves with the new shoes. Shelton said the hours she’s spent helping the children shop have been a real eye opener.“When we first put the canned goods up, green beans were the big seller. These kids say ‘I love green beans and we never have enough to eat’, so they bought canned goods,” said Shelton.There’s one story Shelton said she’ll never forget. In the words of a child, Shelton quoted, “Oh, I need a toothbrush, because I always use my brother’s, and it’s always dirty. So now I have a toothbrush of my own.”Ariana Wurth, a fifth-grader, said the school store concept has made a difference in the classrooms, almost transforming the morale of the school.“My class was normally wild in the beginning of the year, and now that this came, they’ve been more quiet and behaving in class,” said Ariana.Principal Schowe said Sammy is one of those kids. Before Christmas, Schowe said Sammy had several referrals to the office for discipline. But with the January opening of Rebecca Boone Trading Post, Sammy has not had one single referral in the second semester. Being referral free from discipline is motivation to earn one additional Boone Buck every day kids attend school.Sammy admits the store has changed him. He said he’d rather earn two Boone Bucks a day than just one.“It helps me sometimes avoid people,” said Sammy. “And it teaches kids not to talk out sometimes, so I don’t get in trouble.”“He’s doing a better job identifying kids he can be with and make good decisions,” said Schowe.And there are many good decisions kids like Sammy can make.“Sometimes if I have a little leftover money, I’ll buy stuff for my mom, my dad, my two sisters,” said Sammy.

Cole Carmean, a Kindergartner at Rebecca Boone, shows off the clothes and gloves that he bought at the trading post. Kathleen Berger photo.