Are there limits to what gifts and other extras teachers can accept?

[Anonymous]

My child's preschool board asks us to give a group cash gift to teachers twice a year and a few days ago they started asking us to contribute to two teacher luncheons this spring. A friend of mine in Mass. said it's illegal according to a state commission?! Is this only in Massachusetts? They got a letter a few months ago from the preschool Director stating what the limitations are on gift giving and that parents are not allowed to take up collections or do anything where there could be perceived pressure even if something is "voluntary." She said if the teachers accept gifts worth more than a certain amount they could be fined? It's considered a conflict of interest to accept a generous gift or multiple gifts that go beyond the specified limit. Do these limits exist in the DC metro area? Does it vary by private or public school? I agree that preschool teachers aren't paid nearly enough and deserve our appreciation. I am just wondering if we are putting the teachers in a difficult position? I also wonder if this puts too much pressure on parents facing difficult financial situations during these changing economic times. At my workplace there are even more stringent guidelines than this, but it's not a school setting.

[Anonymous]

Are you (talking about a private preschool, or a public PreK program? What is your friend up in Mass talking about? I can imagine that public PreK teachers as public school employees might have some regulations on what they can accept. A private preschool, I have never heard of any rules or regulations giverning their gifts.

[Anonymous]

OK, the Mass law is talking about state employees can't accept gifts over $50. Are teachers there considered state employees?

http://wbztv.com/local/teacher.gifts.ethics.2.1354167.html

Several superintendents in the region are reaching out to parents, warning them about over-gifting. Anything that is worth more than $50 actually violates state ethics laws, which ban employees on public payroll from accepting more expensive gifts.

The rules even apply when families pool their money to buy a bigger gift. It it's worth more than $50, teachers are not supposed to accept. Such a gift would have to be given to the school or classroom, rather than an individual teacher.

RULES TWEAKED

These rules aren't new. They have been part of state law since 1976. However, according to the state Ethics Commission, the ethics reform law that took effect this year clarified language. Previously gifts over $50 were not allowed if they were "tied to some official action." Now they are banned simply because of a teacher's status as a public employee.

In Belmont, the superintendent sent a letter to parents explaining the gifting rules.

"This law was enacted to ensure that members of the public are treated equally and that no one has or might be perceived to have special advantages or influence," Superintendent George Entwistle wrote. "This applies even if the purpose of the gift is seen as a token of gratitude for a well-done job."

[Anonymous]

I teach in MoCo and I remember years ago watching a video as part of an in-service which stated that we could not accept gifts over $25.

[Anonymous]

Some of the elite NYC schools have imposed limits because gift giving has gotten out of hand. Pooled gifts are limited as well.