We give each classroom teacher $11.00 per student for the year. This can cover fieldtrips, parties and anything else that the teacher needs. In addition if a teacher uses their alloted amount they can fill out a special request for additional funds and it is voted on at the next meeting - they are rarely denied. We have just under 300 students in our school and have found that this works great for us and our teachers. Other teachers can also come to us with requests that we vote on on a case by case basis. Hope this helps.
It our PreK-1 school, we give each full-time teacher a credit of $115 and each part-time (preschool) teacher and "specials" teachers $75 each. The Principal has $1000. The amount is based on our annual budget (which,technically, wont' be finalized until our PTO approves next year's budget in the fall). Also, we ask for $5 per student per year to pay for the class parties which the room parents plan (the teachers don't fund those).
Each teacher got a special envelope in June to save their receipts and we will reimburse them up to that amount next year, whenever they turn in their receipts. We don't care how they spend the money, and we don't audit the receipts, since we know they all spend lots more from their own pockets.
We used to give them each a check outright at the beginning of the year, but the IRS recommended we go the reimbursement route when we applied for 501c3.
In the school we are just leaving, PTO gave each teacher $5.00 per student - to the classroom teachers only, this was to be used for anything that would benefit the entire class - could be supplies, books, rewards, incentives, anything the teacher thought appropriate. The teachers were required to submit receipts and then be reimbursed up to the maximum of $5.00 per student in their class. We also have "mini-grants" which must be for the benefit of a particular group, either a classroom, the music program, the art program, phys ed department, etc. - for the benefit of a group and not an individual. Any teacher, staff or administrator could put in a request for a mini-grant. They were decided based upon availability of funding, number of students who would be served, etc. - the principal would be asked for input as well to determine that funding wasn't otherwise available through "real" grants or the district. Also - the requesting person had to actually show up for the meeting to make the request.
At our brand new school - as we don't have that kind of start up money, we won't be doing either of these right off the bat - and all of our teachers know not to expect too much from us the first year. We will do what we can - but priorities # 1 and # 2 are insurance and not-for-profit status, both of which cost money.
Our PTVO has traditionally given each teacher, club (chess club, computer club, etc.), and various other staffing areas (school nurse, office, etc.) $50 reimbursement funds each year. We vote on the issue every year at our April meeting. We notify all teachers in May that they will be reimbursed $50 each, so they know to save their receipts. By doing it in April, we know how much money will need to be carried over (in the past: $3500). This last year, as prez, I asked for more reimbursement funds because we had made more money during the year (we were also able to give them $25 more during the year). We were able to give them (teachers, clubs and nurse) $100 reimbursement (voted in by majority). Do I think that they will get $100 a year from now on? Doubtful. The amount will be decided upon at the April 2003 meeting.
Keep in mind that doing this is not a teacher's right. It is a nice thing that a PTO group does if they have the funds. If you only have the funds to give the teachers $25 reimbursement this year, that is what they get. If you can give them $175, then let them have it. The only thing I want to add to that is: Your group shouldn't have to spend the year raising THAT money. You should only allot what money you already have set aside for them, so that you don't start each year literally in the fundraising hole.
I'm sure you'll get lots of good advice from this group. We don't routinely do teacher allotments. However, year before last when our fundraising exceeded expectations, we allowed each teacher a $50 reimbursement for class supplies. They were thrilled. I've seen various figures mentioned in this Forum, but I suspect $175 is on the generous side.
One article I read suggested that each public school teacher, on average, spends $500 or more of their personal funds on items for the classroom. Many people think that estimate is really low.
So, any little bit helps - but it's not a given that PTO's do this in all schools. As an organization, certainly you can change how your funds are used. (Depending on your rules, you may have to bring it up for vote.)
But then you also need to deal with the people issues. Has the organization given $175 for years and years, so do the teachers tend to expect it? If so, you'll want to give them as much notice as possible and explain why and how funds will be used elsewhere. People understand when funding is tight or sometimes things need to be reprioritized. But do what you can to soften the blow if they are expecting to have the funds. Explain how much they will get and what other things the PTO will do to support them.
