As far as money that we allocate specifically for teachers: At IRS recommendation, we require them to turn in receipts. But, we don't review the receipts, just file them. We allocate $90 per teacher which helps defray their personal expenses for setting up their rooms. We don't have a policy limiting how the money can be spent, since we recognize the teachers spend way more than $90 per year of their own money.
As far as other requests go...all other requests for PTO money goes thru our principal. If he says yes, and our budget for that category can support the request, then the money is spent. That way, the parents are not the bad guys if a request is denied, nor are we supposing that we are in a position to debate the merits of a teacher's request.
Every August, we give each of our teachers a "gift certificate" printed up on cute paper saying something like "In appreciation of all that you do the Parents' Club is pleased to give you $200 to purchase supplies for your classroom". Then, as they purchase their items, they turn in their receipts. This adds up to about $9600 for our school.
Then, other teacher requests have to go through the principal who screens them and decides whether or not they are the highest priority for the school. He then brings any requests to the Parents' Club for consideration.
Shelly
EEF funds is money that the teachers get from our state. The school board at our school says that we must ask to give teachers money in that amount. I guess they make sure what the teachers are doing. We have never been told no. We also ask for projects like you.
Why do you have to go to your school board to give money? What is EEF?
The only reason we would go to the board is to request permission to do a major project like a playground or sound deadening panels in the middle school gym/auditorium.
