Raising money for your school can be quite a process, Joey Ferro, member of John W. Decas Elementary's National Elementary Honor Society, has learned.

The Honor Society raised more than $1,000 through a fundraiser with Flagship Cinemas last month, but as Joey told the School Committee on Wednesday, it wasn't exactly an easy feat!

He started from the beginning.

During February break, Joey found himself in his room, just thinking.

"How am I going to think of a way to raise money for my school?" he asked himself.

A light bulb went off. A movie at Flagship Cinemas.

Joey called the manager, who asked him to stop by to discuss the plan. He said he would.

"I told my mom, 'Mom, can you drive me there? 'Cause I can't drive,'" he explained. "And she said, 'Sure.'"

The manager thought it was such a good idea that she decided she'd rent a theater out for $150, rather than the usual $200, Joey said.

Joey's Honor Society colleagues, some of whom accompanied him at the School Committee meeting, agreed that it was a good idea.

A date was scheduled. The theater would screen, "The Great and Powerful Oz."

But on the day of the fundraiser, a truck crashed in the area of the theater, making a mess of the road and knocking out power to Flagship, Joey told the School Committee.

The Honor Society students had to relay that information to all of the excited movie-goers who were waiting in their cars in the parking lot.

Initially, the students thought the power would be turned on right away, but they soon learned that the fundraiser would have to be rescheduled.

Fortunately, the theater was packed when the event did occur. And the movie was good to boot!

"The movie was spectacular," Joey told the School Committee. "I'd give it, like, a 9.8 out of 10."

As for the money raised, Joey says, "I'm hoping we're going to use it for a school store for our school."

The School Committee was impressed by Joey's initiative and amused by his retelling of the events.

"You really pulled it off," said School Committee member Mike Flaherty, whose son Joshua is a member of the Honor Society. "Even with the power failure, you really pulled it off!"

School Committee member Geoff Swett asked if Joey learned anything that may help him in planning his next fundraiser.

"Sometimes things don't work out like you planned," Joey responded, "but sometimes it's for the better."