Our PTO does two teacher luncheons a year, one for back to school and one the week of teacher appreciation. They always love it and the PTO pays for one (end of year, catered) and at the beginning of the year we ask parents to volunteer to bring in a dish. I do not feel obligated to do anything else since I fundraise for the school every year and send in a dish for the luncheon at the end of the year and at the holidays I also give a gift to my child's teacher. I feel that is more than adaquate.

The teachers make wish lists and then we give them all money. We just gave all the teachers $700.
Then we pay a lot for 'consumables' Copy machine paper, stuff like that.

We are having a new pres next year and I hope things will change and we can do something better with the money. They actually wanted me to be VP, but I don't think I can do it.

I did like the idea of just not having fundraising next year. Since we made so money.

I did go to the teachers lounge tonight and put mini 100 grand candy bars in all the mailboxes anyway........I did keep all the tupperwae though.
I don't know much about all this PTO stuff I am only 25, I came on here for some advice [img]smile.gif[/img]

pagentmom - we raise about $20k a year, too, and our staff appreciation budget is $1,500. We do two major meals during fall and spring conferences and a couple of little things during the year (staff of about 62). Sounds like your PTO should rethink its staff app budget. $50 isn't really enough to do anything of substance...and you can't always count on people donating out of pocket --- why are you fundraising if not to support the programs and purpose of the PTO??

We just had a Staff Appreciation on Tuesday (instead of Teachers). We did a huge chinese food buffet for them and they loved it.

It makes me sad that people do things like this - especially those people who are supposed to be teaching our children.

Thanks....... I see now that I can't spend my own money on teacher stuff. It is so true that the PTO should pay for it........Heck we make over $20,000 every year.

Last night when I asked if we could raise the budget for teacher week (which is only $50) they acted like that would just break us!! I decided that I will just keep most of my Tupperware salt and Pepper shakers, but give them to the teachers that my son has had and leave it at that.
Some of the other moms where hurt too, We all spent our own money.

Hi Pageant Mom, I can truly sympathize. As PTO Pres, I have spent so much of my own money this year on PTO projects, and it does lead to a feeling of anger when people are rude and demanding. Unfortunately for folks like us who want to be generous, it is a hard lesson learned (I finally learned it) that people want things that cost alot but somehow think that they should be free, therefore it must come from PTO funds or it can't be done. Otherwise it leads to too much hurt and pain. I learned the hard hard way this year and still feel bitter.