Gift card policy for teachers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - ok so if I stick to $20 max on gift card, could we give chocolates too?

I think I did $25 or $30 last year without an issue but I don’t want to risk it. Seems embarrassing if it was turned down or if teacher got in trouble. I’ll just gift again later.

Do the chocolates have a cash value of more than $0? If so, then that would violate the gift policy.

[Anonymous]

Can class parent collect cash donations for one big class gift? in addition to individual gifts of $20?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can class parent collect cash donations for one big class gift? in addition to individual gifts of $20?

For a different event. But you can’t just give two gifts for the same event in an attempt to get around the gift policy. Two gifts of $20 should be reported as a $40 gift.

[Anonymous]

Just give cash. Seriously. Put it in an envelope and don't make a big deal of it.

[Anonymous]

OP, $25 or$30 is fine. Nobody is going to audit a teacher over gift cards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, $25 or$30 is fine. Nobody is going to audit a teacher over gift cards.

They’re just ethics rules in the employment agreement, after all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, $25 or$30 is fine. Nobody is going to audit a teacher over gift cards.

They’re just ethics rules in the employment agreement, after all.

Ethical is increasing the gift card amount insight of the number of years it has been stuck at $20 and the cost of living increased since the $20 max was established
Rule following an archaic dollar amount .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just give cash. Seriously. Put it in an envelope and don't make a big deal of it.

But be reasonable. The year a few Tilden families gave $100 bills tucked in cards, I was really freaked out. I ended up plowing it back into classroom materials because ai was worried it would get me in trouble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, $25 or$30 is fine. Nobody is going to audit a teacher over gift cards.

They’re just ethics rules in the employment agreement, after all.

Ethical is increasing the gift card amount insight of the number of years it has been stuck at $20 and the cost of living increased since the $20 max was established
Rule following an archaic dollar amount .

These gifts aren’t supposed to be compensation. Unless, of course, you’re selling grades. $20 is more than sufficient for a token of appreciation.

And MCPS isn’t unique with the number— federal employees have a $20 limit, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, $25 or$30 is fine. Nobody is going to audit a teacher over gift cards.

They’re just ethics rules in the employment agreement, after all.

You can be as cheap as you want and call it ethical, but these teachers are doing so much for so little already. I'll be sending $50 Starbucks cards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just give cash. Seriously. Put it in an envelope and don't make a big deal of it.

But be reasonable. The year a few Tilden families gave $100 bills tucked in cards, I was really freaked out. I ended up plowing it back into classroom materials because ai was worried it would get me in trouble.

I teach elementary and have received many, many gifts over $20 in my 25 years.
i have never reported them, why would I? It’s a nice gesture from the family. I thank them and move along. Mcps has much bigger issues to deal with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just give cash. Seriously. Put it in an envelope and don't make a big deal of it.

But be reasonable. The year a few Tilden families gave $100 bills tucked in cards, I was really freaked out. I ended up plowing it back into classroom materials because ai was worried it would get me in trouble.

I teach elementary and have received many, many gifts over $20 in my 25 years.
i have never reported them, why would I? It’s a nice gesture from the family. I thank them and move along. Mcps has much bigger issues to deal with.

Why would you? Because your employment agreement says you have to.

I guess rules don’t apply to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just give cash. Seriously. Put it in an envelope and don't make a big deal of it.

But be reasonable. The year a few Tilden families gave $100 bills tucked in cards, I was really freaked out. I ended up plowing it back into classroom materials because ai was worried it would get me in trouble.

I teach elementary and have received many, many gifts over $20 in my 25 years.
i have never reported them, why would I? It’s a nice gesture from the family. I thank them and move along. Mcps has much bigger issues to deal with.

Why would you? Because your employment agreement says you have to.

I guess rules don’t apply to you.

My employment agreement also says that my duty day begins at 8:20 and ends at 3:50. I work beyond those hours all the time. I have not known a single colleague who has reported a gift over $20. As an mcps parent, I don’t adhere to the limit either. Sorry not sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just give cash. Seriously. Put it in an envelope and don't make a big deal of it.

But be reasonable. The year a few Tilden families gave $100 bills tucked in cards, I was really freaked out. I ended up plowing it back into classroom materials because ai was worried it would get me in trouble.

I teach elementary and have received many, many gifts over $20 in my 25 years.
i have never reported them, why would I? It’s a nice gesture from the family. I thank them and move along. Mcps has much bigger issues to deal with.

Why would you? Because your employment agreement says you have to.

I guess rules don’t apply to you.

My employment agreement also says that my duty day begins at 8:20 and ends at 3:50. I work beyond those hours all the time. I have not known a single colleague who has reported a gift over $20. As an mcps parent, I don’t adhere to the limit either. Sorry not sorry.

No wonder people have lost respect for teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just give cash. Seriously. Put it in an envelope and don't make a big deal of it.

But be reasonable. The year a few Tilden families gave $100 bills tucked in cards, I was really freaked out. I ended up plowing it back into classroom materials because ai was worried it would get me in trouble.

I teach elementary and have received many, many gifts over $20 in my 25 years.
i have never reported them, why would I? It’s a nice gesture from the family. I thank them and move along. Mcps has much bigger issues to deal with.

Why would you? Because your employment agreement says you have to.

I guess rules don’t apply to you.

My employment agreement also says that my duty day begins at 8:20 and ends at 3:50. I work beyond those hours all the time. I have not known a single colleague who has reported a gift over $20. As an mcps parent, I don’t adhere to the limit either. Sorry not sorry.

No wonder people have lost respect for teachers.

I know, people who regularly work extra hours and give generous gifts are the worst.