We provide each of our teachers an "Educational Assistance" fund of $150.00 each year. We increased this amount from $100.00 in past years. They use a reimbursment form and we reimburse for whatever they turn in. We also provide dinner at Open House, Dinner at Fall & Spring Conferences, Staff Appreciation Day with goodie bags, raffle prizes, buffet, etc. We do receive thank you cards quite frequently for the extras we provide. We also have a PTSO room represetnative for each class and a $2,000.00 budget for the room rep. requests for the year. This has been used this year for a CD Player, Die Cuts, etc. We get big thank yous when these requests are approved. We have also provided special thank you's to classes like donut parties etc and are teachers have gone out of their way to have the whole class write cute thank you notes on donut shaped cards. We feel appreciated most of the time...but it is easy to get discouraged when you are working so hard..hang in there...I am sure your school couldn't do without you!!

We have not been able to give cash to our teachers but have fed them during conferences, a huge BBQ lunch for Appreciation Week, and I made a little goodie bag for the first day of school.
I really can't begin to tell you my feelings on how few thanks we see or hear (except for the ones we hear as they are being served lunch) but just in general. I suppose right now just a small note or something to say thank you would be nice....I'll stop here, too many hormones on this topic!

At our Pre-1 school, our 30 teachers got $115 credit that we would reimburse them for purchases (used to give them a check outright, but the IRS recommends reimbursement instead for our 501c3 PTO). We don't even look at the receipts - whatever they submit, they get $ back. We don't monitor their purchases, so I guess they could take items with them that, technically, we paid for - oh well... We DO get lots of thank you notes from our staff.

Twice a year, our PTO pouts on a staff appreciation luncheon. At the end of the year, the staff puts on a picnic for all parents, with special acknowledgement of PTO officers and chairpeople.

At the end of every school year the staff throws a volunteer appreciation "tea." It's not necessarily for only the PTO, but for everyone who volunteers. Each teacher sends out invites to the parents who helped him or her throughout the year, and everyone who helps the school is invited. It's nice- the teachers bake for us, and we get a small gift (a notepad and pen with something written on it about volunteers, for instance).

We also give our teachers $50 to start out the year. This past year, we were able to bump it up to $75 (we also give the "Clubs" money, i.e. Chess, Computer, etc. We also include the Nurse's office). We also do Staff Gifts at Christmas, a Before School Starts Luncheon and a breakfast and luncheon during Teacher Appreciation Week, as well as a handmade gift for each of the entire staff. I have to tell you that we didn't receive but 3 Thank You notes. Our school staff has never actually rewarded our PTO by way of a party or pins or gifts of any type. Chances are pretty good that they will only get $50 next year and we'll put in an extra program for the children with the money instead. I must admit that it would be nice for the school staff to through a lunch for the PTO, but it isn't going to happen. And it isn't why we do what we do anyway. But I agree... it would be nice to be appreciated. [img]tongue.gif[/img] [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[ 03-09-2002: Message edited by: TheMetzyMom ]</p>

That's been a sticky issue with our PTO this year. We give a reimbursement of $50/ certfied teacher (over 150 teachers)! This year we also gave each teacher a $100 voucher to spend at the book fair. We also throw two teacher dinners during parent/teacher conferences. This year the board wasn't enthusiastic about the reimbursements- we could just about afford them. The membership really felt strongly about reimbursements, though, so we're doing them.

I picked up several reimbursement forms this morning, and every teacher wrote a sincere thank you for helping them. Your $200 is a lot, I hope the staff appreciates it.