I am so glad to see this as it was a recent discussion amongst our board. In past years during Staff Appreciation, the board (PTA until January 06) bought gifts for the teachers/staff. Basically they spent $5 per teacher and made them lunch. This year there is nobody on the board that is inclined to cook (not in that mass quantity) so we are looking at having lunch catered. The question was raised at why we do both, isn't lunch enough. Is it appropriate to spend $1,500 for gifts and lunch? I would rather do lunch and then look at this budget allocation for teachers each year. Can someone explain it to me? Is it per class or grade related?
I am so glad to see this as it was a recent discussion amongst our board. In past years during Staff Appreciation, the board (PTA until January 06) bought gifts for the teachers/staff. Basically they spent $5 per teacher and made them lunch. This year there is nobody on the board that is inclined to cook (not in that mass quantity) so we are looking at having lunch catered. The question was raised at why we do both, isn't lunch enough. Is it appropriate to spend $1,500 for gifts and lunch? I would rather do lunch and then look at this budget allocation for teachers each year. Can someone explain it to me? Is it per class or grade related?
I am so glad to see this as it was a recent discussion amongst our board. In past years during Staff Appreciation, the board (PTA until January 06) bought gifts for the teachers/staff. Basically they spent $5 per teacher and made them lunch. This year there is nobody on the board that is inclined to cook (not in that mass quantity) so we are looking at having lunch catered. The question was raised at why we do both, isn't lunch enough. Is it appropriate to spend $1,500 for gifts and lunch? I would rather do lunch and then look at this budget allocation for teachers each year. Can someone explain it to me? Is it per class or grade related?
We don't out Christmas gifts per se, but our teacher allocation for classroom supplies usually goes out after Thanksgiving in early December. We figure it allows them to buy items when they may be able to catch a sale.
Kris27,
I can see the teachers side of it if they were expecting one amount and got something less. It sounds like a matter of expectations and communications.
Did you just write each teacher a check or did you include a cover letter with it? If your cover letter explained that the fundraising was down this year and that amount of the gift had to be reduced....beyond our control...other nice soothing words.... that would probably have eliminated most of the hurt feelings.
Better yet, let the teachers know when the budget it set or at the begining of the year. When we set our budget last year, we needed to reduce the teacher allocation to make the numbers work. A "Welcome Back" note in September told them the budget issues, but that we were hoping to raise enough funds in the Fall to allocate what we did the previous year. The funds came in and they got their full checks.
We've never given anything to the teachers/staff for Christmas either. We give throughout the yr. I usually bring goodies to put in the teachers lounge. Maybe do that & purchase a meat/cheese platter & treats for a luncheon. Good luck!!!
