We must look like scrooges compared to you all. We have a whole-school staff lunch during teachers' week. It costs maybe $200 all told. We remember the secretaries on Secretary's day, with flowers. Maybe $25 total. At the holidays, we don't give gifts directly to the teachers. They get a gift card to spend on their room, usually around $50 each, 20 rooms, $1000. Then the office gets a gift, that everyone can share, maybe $25.

That's about all we do. Our budget is around $10,000. We have discussed the aspect of personal gifts that wouldn't benefit the students as a whole, and luckily we still all think alike on this--and don't do much on the "personal" level.

I'm not sure what your annual buget is, but we use about 10% for staff appreciation throughout the year. This includes that whole week in May and 2 staff lunches during conferences and a few other things. We have a staff of 65. We also spend 20% of our budget on discretionary funds.
When I took over as treasurer, our group before I was voted in never required financials at meetings, I couldn't believe what was being spent on staff throughout the year. I think most parents were tired of fundraising and not seeing benefits and that was why they weren't seeing anything. If you think what is being spent is too much, talk about it at your group. Show everyone the numbers and propose what you would like to see done instead and what you would like to do with the extra money. Even our teachers on the board couldn't believe the money that had been spent to cater lunches when there were parents willing to bring stuff in. I think if you believe it is too much, there are probably others out there who will agree with you.
If you want our rough numbers, about $1500 is spent on staff appreciation for the year and about $3000 is spent on discretionary funds. If you want more info, you can email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Good luck.

This was our budget for last years pres and it seems excessive to me. Let me know everyones thoughts.

Teacher vouchers (40) @$100.00 $4000.00
xmas gifts
Staff xmas gifts 200.00
Teacher Apprerciation 300.00
Secretary's/Nurses day 150.00
Year end gifts for staff 150.00
______________
Total 4800.00


How can I change this without slighting anyones feelings this year that all the gifts are just too much? In my eyes the funds raised are for the kids not all these gifts. I think just the teacher appreciation at the end of the year would be just fine. Maybe increasing the budget a bit but this is way too much.


Cindy

Edited to add: Our anual budget is about $20,000-$22,000

[ 11-09-2005, 04:23 PM: Message edited by: my3strongtikes ]

We give small tokens of appreciation during Staff Appreciation Week (formerly known as Teacher Appreciation Week at our school)as well as an all staff meal. This is the only fair and equal way we could come up with.
During Christmas, our president puts together something for the board members (6 staff and 2 parents)to say thanks for being dedicated to the group. It is the only time our board gets anything for their work with PTO. Last year this was a school coffee mug filled with candy and wraped in celophane and a pretty bow. The total cost was less than $20.
Other than that, we don't have a ton of money or donations to work with and we are very careful with what we do have.

Do you give gifts to your teachers and staff for all the holidays? Christmas, secretaries day, nurses day, teacher appreciation and end of the year. Our last board did and I think its a bit much, but I was wondering if everyone does this or is that a little excessive.

Also for gifts for teachers what do you think is a resonable amount?

Cindy