PARIS — Students at Paris School walked their way to a newly renovated library.

Over the summer, the Paris School library was updated using a $14,000 gift from the Paris School Organization — the district’s version of the PTA.

“It was painted with fresher, lighter colors, there is all new carpeting, new bookshelves and new ceiling tiles,” said Administrator Roger Gahart.

The layout of the furniture and shelving in the rooms was also changed.

“We rearranged it to make better use of natural light,” Gahart said.

The money for the project came largely from the annual Panther Prowl, a fundraising walk the PSO launched three years ago. The Prowl, which features children walking a course at the school for pledges, has become so successful that the PSO has dropped most of its other fundraisers.

“The first year our goal was $3,000, and we raised about $10,000,” said organizer Lisa Ashmus. Since then it has grown even more successful, raising about $15,000 last school year.

Last year the theme for the event was “Laps for the Library.”

Ashmus, now a member of the School Board, was vice president of the PSO when she proposed the first Panther Prowl three years ago.

“I wanted to come up with a better fundraiser than selling pizza or wrapping paper,” said Ashmus, who dreaded fundraisers that had her selling things to family members or co-workers.

She said she got the idea for a walk-a-thon from fundraising advice on a national PTA Web site. The resulting Panther Prowl has become an annual event for the school — planned this year for Oct. 3.

The event features the walk, with students collecting pledges, along with an outdoor party with food, music and a silent auction featuring projects made by each class. The kids also get the chance to win the opportunity to do something crazy, like toss a cream pie at a teacher.

“Last year my son got to squish a pie in my face. It was the highlight of his eighth-grade year,” Ashmus said.

She said more than two-thirds of the district’s students took part last year, the event raising more than $75 for each student at the school.

It has been so successful that neighboring school districts are looking to create similar events.

“It’s fun for everybody, and the kids are actually doing something to earn the money rather than having their parents selling things at work,” Ashmus said.

Paris is struggling with financial problems. Last year, residents approved a tax increase after the School Board warned it would have to dissolve the district without new funds.

Even with the tax increase, Paris has been in budget-cutting mode, reducing staff and looking to cut salary and benefit costs.

Gahart said money from the two annual PSO fundraisers — the Panther Prowl and, later in the year, a community spaghetti dinner — is used to fund things the district could not otherwise afford.

In past years, Gahart said, the PSO has purchased “smart board” digital blackboards for the school, along with printers and digital cameras. Grants from the PSO also go toward funding field trips, dances and an annual Halloween party.