we had a teacher die last year, and it is still very sad...

First off, please know that your community is in our prayers. This is never easy for kids to understand. Take some time before making a big decision for it to sink in -- you'll be glad that you make a PTA decision after the emotions are so less frazzled.

By the end of the year, we had decided on a fitting memorial. I think a teacher would want to be remembered in an educational way -- books are good. We are doing a reading loft in the library -- she was such a huge literacy advocate and known for her book collections. We think she would love to know that kids are enjoying books in her loft area... The design has been donated and we are working on the materials.

I guess I am just trying to say, be there for the staff and kids first, while at the same time be mindful of a way to remember the teacher.

We, too, had a student and her father die in a car wreck a few years ago and there are two benches in our courtyard with their names on them. There are also some trees on the campus that are in memory of various folks but they don't have plaques on them. I think the book idea is nice--maybe a set or something. I'd figure out your budget and that will dictate what your memorial will be.
Good luck
Shelly

While a tree is beautiful, there was a topic on here a while back about all of these trees being planted at their school in memory. That poster was concerned because the front started to look more like a graveyard and was morose to pass. (this would never have occured to me before but I can see how it could go in that direction)
I believe that a teacher should be honored though and I like the idea of doing something big for the school. Also, a teacher is usually in it for the kids. why not donate something in their honor to continue their legacy of learning, something that will be used. If the teacher was from your sports dept, the scoreboard would be nice with a memorial at the top or if an English person, perhaps a set of books for the library with her name inside.
As a PTA, this is perfectly okay.

We had a student killed in an auto accident last year. We are in a rather rural area and are very close knit. Kelsey loved horses. One of the teachers thought it would be a wonderful tribute to Kelsey and her family if a bench was placed on campus. The teacher found the perfect spot...under a mesquite tree, close to the library. The bench is a horse. It is so beautiful to see the youngest students run their hands across the horses back...like they are petting it. Kelsey can never be forgotten... a plaque was placed as a memorial and beautiful geraniums were hung in the tree. It is such a solemn and peaceful place to be. May God bless you and give you comfort.

I went into the school today & spoke to he principal about maybe planting a tree. Since our school is to start major construction in June, he wants us to wait until after the construction is completed. He's all for the tree but prefers us to purchase a new score board for the gym instead!

Since our school year hasn't started just yet, we have time to revise our preposed budget and add in a new line item for this. I guess I have a year to come up with something creative and agreeable for all involved. But now the new question is-- how much do you spend on something like this?

We have a rememberence fund built in our budget for the year. It's $300 and we have not had to use it every year (thanks to that!), but we have had students die in the past, and, we have done something for it.

I think it is totally inline. If you don't have something already pre-budgeted for it, I hope you board would vote to do something.