O another reason I question the purpose of sending a separate arrangement from PTO using PTO funds, for our school anyway, is that our staff has an account through the office for this purpose that each person puts a few dollars in the "pot" at the beginning of the school year. This seems like the appropriate way to handle this. Also most parents take it upon themselves to send flowers when their child's teacher is involved. So again, why would anybody even consider using PTO funds for this. It seems like the officers are just using PTO funds for their personal reasons. Again, not trying to be hateful, I just can't understand it. Maybe I'm missing something.

I agree with D....I know others don't see anything wrong with sending flowers for funerals, etc. Could somebody please explain to me how that benefits the kids and school as a whole. I am not trying to be sarcastic or hateful, I really don't see how using PTO funds for these things could be justified. I have no objection to sending them on a personal level with the officers name listed but paid with their personal funds. Noone has ever explained it in a way that doesn't make me feel like it can be justified. Do the officers just set this money aside from the general funds and do the members realize this or are the members solicited for a donation for this specifically? Do you have very clear rules on when to send flowers....Ever caused problems???? Sorry, but just simply seems wrong to me.

We have an account at a local floral shop. We send plants out for retirement and bereavement. I don't see anything wrong with using PTO funds for that purpose.

We have 2 funds -- hospitality is what we pay for our ice cream social and PTO President's breakfast out of. (President' breakfast- our district has all PTO members to to a certain school once a month and discuss district issues and new things that each school is doing-- we provide snacks -- coffee, donuts, bagels) the other is a sunshine fund used for gift items when a teacher has a death in his/her family)-- we send something out to them from the PTO as a whole. Hope this helps

I totally agree with d, PTO should not be handling "charity" issues. Nothing wrong with helping people....don't mind helping anybody....but don't feel like PTO funds should be used....No way to possibly be fair about this.....PTO funds should be to benefit the students and school as a whole as closely as it can be......As a parent, I would not want PTO officers using the funds to selectively "help" an individual....where do you draw the line....how can you say one person's needs are greater than anothers.....best to do those things personally.....let individual choose who they feel they should "help"

I'm not a fan of using PTO funds for anything but large group activities. Small donations are better sent from individuals because drawing the line on where to stop can be very difficult. The money is raised to benefit the most people it can in the school, children and teachers, but individual gifts should be just that, from individuals.