Our schools have instituted a "teacher's Gift Fund". At the holidays in December, before school breaks, we have a gift fund drive. This allows parents to contribute money in the name of any teacher or other staff member. Each person honored with a financial gift receives a card indicating the names of prople who donated in their homor. The appeal of this is that it frees parents rom buying all of those unwanted mugs and other teacher gifts each December. A family, and many do, can then give as little as $5.00 in the name of one or many teachers. The amount donated is not listed. The only money total listed is the total amount raised by all donations principal or the teachers want something purchased for their use in the school the money comes from the gift fund, with the account staying as a line item in our budget. This really works.

Doesn't have to be hard feelings if you present it well. Don't make the principal look like the bad guy (even if she was being one) and just kind of make it that principal misunderstood your meeting. then go through your regular process. Maybe there's a compromise. You'll pay half if principal can find half in her budget or something like that.

Our bylaws state that the board cannot approve a purchase over $100.00 without the membership voting on it. $2,000.00 is alot of money to spend without a vote. Be honest with the teachers and tell them the principal misunderstood you but that you could never approve such a purchase without a vote. That way the outcome either way will be what the majority want.

[This message has been edited by Kaylee (edited 09-07-2000).]

I need help! Our principal has asked the PTA to purchase the teachers a laminating machine. We told her that we would look into it but nothing was definite because it had to be voted on. Well, she went and told the teachers that the PTA was going to purchase one! Now we found out that it is going to cost us $2,000 (we didn't want to spend that much). We feel like we have to buy one because we don't want hard feelings with the teacher, but the principal really put us on the spot. Any suggestions?