We hold a fundraiser and all monies collected from the fundraiser is for the teachers and supplies for their rooms--we ask the teachers for a supply list of items they are needing and we gave them all $75. oo of supplies off their lists. We collected wish list for supplies again after christmas break and will be giving them all another $75.00 to $100 worth of supplies from their lists again within the next few weeks--It is alittle work on our part--instead of having them buy the items and give us the receipts--if we order items in bulk we get a cheaper rate inturn they get more supplies. So in the end it all works out and what ever we give them they are so very appreciative of--with our school budget cuts like they are every little bit helps

We have over 900 students in our school. Each year we vote on an amount to provide the teachers in discreationary money. The amount is sometimes $4.50 per student and has been as high as $7.00 per student. It depends upon the amount of money we have and what we need to budget for. In addition, special programs request money such as fine arts $500.00, and outdoor play toys (jump ropes, balls, etc.) $1000.00. We also have a Staff Support Fund of approximately $500.00 which individuals submit requests to. I hope that this helps.

We budget $90 per teacher, including our "special" teachers like art and gym, plus the social worker, reading specialist, ESL teacher...basically anyone who deals directly with the students. They have to submit receipts (preferably $90 at one time so we can write one check per teacher) but we don't review their purchases. We also establish budgets that we let our principal control, as long as his purchases stay within the general definition we set for each budget (ex: educational materials).

Once our members approve the annual budget in September, we are set for the year. The only other time our members have to approve spending throughout the year is if we have a fundraising surplus and we want to spend the extra unbudgeted money (or a fundraising shortfall and we have to cut pre-approved budgets).

Thanks for your replies, Scottsmom and Michelle. Our teachers and principal can also request funds for other items, but not every teacher puts in a request every year.

Anyone else care to share or put up the thread where this topic was previously discussed?

Thanks!

At our last school, teachers were given "start-up funds" of 10$ per student but really it evolved into just funds for the teachers. They had to submit receipts and guidelines for what could be purchased with it were established and voted on. (No candy, benefits entire class, etc)
Special classes like computers, special ed, etc received a flat amount of $50-$100.
At our new school, the PTA gives the entire staff 1/2 of the first fundraiser profits. It is given to the principal to administrate and he collects reciepts and turns them over to the PTO.
Another school in our council gives teachers a $50 gift certificate for Office Depot, another gives $6 per student.

We give our 25 classroom teachers $100 discretionary money and $4/per student for other expenses-these vary from field trips to reward parties for meeting an academic goal. The other staff members including the principal get $50 discretionary money. The different departments get amounts that we vote on usually based on past expenses but as with everything else, they can request more which is voted on. When the principal has expenses she wants covered, they are all voted on. There are a few things that there is always money set aside for like school performances.