I am with SHC on this one. We give the teacher's a voucher. They buy what they need for the classroom and then give us receipts. We then give them a check.
Oh my, I can't believe you just hand out a check. I don't know if this is a common practice around the country but our teachers (who are allotted $200 each) submit their receipts and then receive reimbursements, so someone sees what the money is spent on. I just don't think it's common practice to hand out checks, but we'll see what others say.
I think you are very right to be concerned. It doesn't pass the "sniff test".
I need some advice on how to handle this situation at our next PTO meeting. At our December meeting we voted on the amount for each teacher for the Reimbursement fund. The board was very specific that we were voting on the amount only. (This has been a very touchy issue in the past with some members believing this money should be a gift and some members believing the PTO should collect receipts to cover the PTO should the IRS come a calling.) Our staff Christmas luncheon was held two days before school let out for break. Imagine my surprise when my teacher returned to the classroom and opened the envelope from the PTO containing a check! Don't get me wrong, I know teachers spend a considerable amount of money on their classrooms. I am concerned for our PTO should the IRS get involved. I know that the IRS considers any gift $25 or over needs to be reported as income. I don't want to see the teachers get in trouble for not reporting this money either. We are talking $175 per teacher, so this is no small amount we are talking about. My concern also is that since these checks were handed out at the Christmas luncheon, that the teachers will consider the checks as a personal gift rather than a reimbursement fund for classroom expenses.
I would appreciate any advice you could share. I am really dissapointed that the board did this behind the bodies back. Thank you!
