Thanks for your replies! I wonder if my state has a similar rule regarding teacher gifts. Any idea how I can find out? Also, I tried to have the fund managed by the school, much like your system, but the secretaries refused the additional responsibility.
Emotions are very high on this issue. I appreciate all responses!
I've never heard of any rule against giving teachers gifts or money. What state is that, luvmykids? Are you sure that's a state rule? I think we've solved this a different way by giving the teachers gift certificates to the local teacher store. Teachers are happy and we know the funds are being used for teacher supplies. Kelly.
Our by-laws stipulate dollar amounts that can be authorized by the board alone, but nothing about things like this. I guess I feel the membership should vote on this issue if the school district has no policy controlling it. In our state the amounts you can give teachers is limited to $5. So we have a Teacher's Discretionary Fund. It is defined as a source of funds for the purchase of materials and supplies that will be used in the classroom. We then write a check to the school for the amount we designate to go into the fund. The teachers have to submit receipts or purchase orders for the items they wish to purchase. This insures that the money is being used for classroom items(because it gets approved by the principal and the district business manager also see it). Maybe you could talk to the principal about setting up a similar program. I personally don't think we should just give the teachers money. When our organization does fundraisers, the people we are asking to buy items are told that the money will go for educational programs and supplies. Also, our constitution and bylaws state that the money has to be used for same. I'm not sure but you may even want to check the rules governing non-profit organizations as to whether this program is appropriate. Technically, you're paying part of a salary if you just give the teachers the funds without any stipulation as to how they are spent. Let me know what you find out.
HELP! I'm the PTO President. Our PTO has a "Teacher Fund" that was described to me as a "supplemental fund to district funds" for full time teachers' classroom purchases. In reality, it was a $150 Christmas bonus with no questions asked as to how the money was spent. With a staff of nearly 60 (and growing), this fund is rather large.
This year, I put to the membership that we should raise the fund to $175 per full- time teacher, but we would require receipts. Several teachers who have been at our school many years were outraged at this question of "trust" and that this was no longer a "gift" . The teachers are under a significant amount of stress with district fund cuts and higher assessment requirements, so I feel badly that this issue is only adding to their frustration. But this year we are over-seeing a budget of nearly $50,000 and that forces us to act more like a business. Tradition is a very big deal at this school, so this new way of approaching the teacher fund as a FUND instead of a GIFT or bonus has some up in arms. At our meeting in November, the membership voted and approved to increase the TF from $150 to $175. But, a veteran PTO member asked that we table the discussion of receipts until we found out what the district required. We all agreed. (Our principal is very ill, so we have a interim principal in her stead.) Our interim principal, did some investigating and reported to me that the district leaves that end of business up to the school and their board. This appeared to be an administrative decision, so when December rolled around (and as per tradition, I found out PTO doesn't hold Dec. meetings) we ,the acting principal and the Board, decided receipts would be required.
Bottom Line: Is requiring receipts for this "Teacher Fund" a board/principal decision, or should it be put to the membership?
