Teacher Appreciation Week: What to Give in Sudbury Public Schools?

Teacher Appreciation Week is this week, May 6-10, so take a moment and show your children's teachers how much they mean to you ... but please follow the rules.

Sudbury Public Schools has a policy in place for gift-giving to teachers that draws from the state Conflict of Interest Law. Before you head out and purchase that extravagant "Thank you" gift, take a look at the guidelines:

It is the policy of the School Committee to discourage the giving of gifts to teachers and administrators. Donations in a teacher's name may be made at each of the schools through SERF and the PTO's.  Money received in such a manner is used to purchase library books, prints of artwork and other items that benefit the entire school.  Massachusetts Law limits the amount of any gift a staff member may receive to $50 from an individual or a group. Collecting contributions from a group of parents to present as a gift to a teacher would be restricted by the $50 limit. The limit is not applicable if the gift from an individual or group is for the classroom, such as student materials, books or other similar items. The difference is whether the gift is a personal gift for the teacher or staff member or for the classroom or students.