You can do most of this but not move them much at all:
Add the boxes, format them so to add text, under the
Protection tab uncheck Locked, with Properties tab pick
'Move and size with cells'. Protect the sheet, and check
format columns and rows - that gives some resizing of the
object when the row or column size is changed that the shape
covers.

Without going into this in detail - have a look at using an
Organizational Chart - 4th one down from the submenu Insert
Picture .

Regards
Robert McCurdy

"Tom-n-Nash" wrote in
message
...
A page of my teacher's gradebook project is a "seating
chart". I want to have
rectangular boxes appear on a "blank" sheet for each
student in the class
list. The objects should be movable with the mouse, and
snap to a grid that
represents rows of desks. Eash Box will have a student's
name on it.

I need to A) Turn off sizing handles and B) use objects
that are pre-defined
(size), but will allow text to be written to them (student
names). C) be free
floating on the sheet so they can be moved.

Any ideas?