We did the same this year and it also got a very enthusiastic response from the teachers. (One article I read said that many elementary school teachers spend an average of $500 out of their own pocket on classroom supplies.) We allowed $50 and teacher assistants/secretaries $25 of discretionary funds to spend in anyway that benefitted their classroom. There was about a 3 month window for them to submit receipts with a reimbursement form to get their check, but the receipts could have been dated from anytime during the school year.

I was glad we had requested receipts. At the PTO Show, this was one of the questions that came up, and the lawyer answering questions said it would be preferred to require receipts rather than simply cut checks. She said reimbursing for classroom expenses was more in line with approved accounting processes and better on the PTO's accountability side. On the teacher side, if it's a "payment" from the PTO, there could be questions about whether the teachers would be obligated to count it a taxable income. (Not that the IRS is going to come knocking at the door, but from the perspective of how things SHOULD be handled.)

It was definitely a popular action with the teachers, so we would likely look at doing this again next year.

Our PTO gone back and forth on the subject of Teacher Appreciation for the past few years.

This year, the PTO board agreed that while the little chochkies (trinkets) were nice, teachers have a TON of them, so another tote bag or coffee mug with cookies wasn't a good idea from our perspective.

We got to thinking--our teachers spend a LOT of their own monies for little things in the classrooms (stickers, decorations, etc.) and wouldn't it be nice if we (The PTO) could assist in defraying some of those costs.

We decided that for teacher appreciation day we would have the PTO Treasurer cut a $50 check for each classroom teacher and $75 for the specials teachers (art, music, librarian, gym).

With all of these checks, we didn't spend more than $2,000 and with our baker contingent on the PTO, we were still able to put trays of cookies and other snacks (some healthy, some indulgent) in the teacher/staff lounge during conference week and we will also do so during appreciation week.

Our budget was pretty healthy this year, so we were actually able to do this twice during the school year. We did it around the holidays too and the teachers just went bananas when they received it. They commented that these "little things" they bring to the classroom during the year really add up and it was nice for their efforts going above and beyond the call of duty to be recognized by the staff.

While I realize that everyone's PTO doesn't have that kind of money to throw around, but it is going back to the children instead of merely filling the gullets ( of the teachers and staff!

Just an idea!

MicheleC
Connecticut

I guess i mean ryhming titles like---terrific teachers thursday---awesome aides wednesday ect....just looking for a jazzy title for every day! thanks for all your thoughts Ü .

Thanks for the dates JHB. Truthfully never been on the PTA site, will have to check it out. Have a hard time keeping up with new postings on PTO site!

Never enough time in the day, is there?

Gifford, what kind of rhyming titles are you talking about? I love your idea for breaking it up by the day. We have never done anything at all like this. Getting a little flack over wanting to thank teachers and staff that really don't help us that much and aren't very supportive. My idea is to remind them with sweetness that we appreciate them so maybe they will get more involved with us?

We are going to do it a little differnt this year. Over the week we will apprec. each group. Bus and Custod. Monday, Aides Tuesday, Aux. Staff Wed. Teachers Thursday, with a big, arrive early, stuff yourself breakfast buffet on Friday for everyone. Now we just have to figure out what to do and those catchy rhyming titles. Ok, guys, help me with this!!!!!

I think the date is driven mostly by the National PTA. They have the dates listed on their web site for the next couple of years as: May 7-13, 2001 and May 5-11, 2002 ( www.pta.org/programs/tchappwk.htm ).

I've also seen it listed elsewhere as May 6-12, 2001, which is basically the same thing.