Some families have made it a tradition to give gifts to school staff to show their appreciation. Before doing so, it is important that everyone understands the laws and regulations that govern gift giving to educators.

School staff members are public employees, subject to the State’s “Conflict of Interest” law and State Ethics Commission rules. These directives cover:

• Individual gifts: School employees may not accept any gift worth more than $50 (including – cash, gift cards, meals, goods, or services)

  • Example: A parent can give a spare Red Sox ticket with a value of $28 to a bus driver, but that same employee may not accept a pair of tickets, as their combined value would exceed $50.

• Gifts for a classroom: School employees may accept a gift over $50 (but not worth more than $150) if it is to be used solely in the classroom or to buy classroom supplies.

  • Example: A PTO can give gift cards valued at $75 for supplies, but it must be used to buy classroom supplies only (and teachers should keep receipts to show that they did so). Such a gift is not considered a gift to the teacher, personally. Supplies bought with the gift cards are the property of the school, not individual teachers.

• Gifts from a classroom (exemption): School employees may accept a gift over $50 (but not worth more than $150) if it is from a group of parents/students.

  • Example: A teacher has a class with 23 students and 20 of the parents collectively give a $150 gift certificate to Belmont Books. The gift must be identified only as being “From the class,” with individual givers and individual amounts given remaining private.

• Disclosure: An educator must disclose a gift if a “reasonable person” would conclude that it could cause an educator to favor anyone.

  • Example: Parents whose high school senior is awaiting a college recommendation gives a bottle of wine to a teacher worth $40. This gift must be disclosed because a “reasonable person” might think it may influence him/her to write a better recommendation for a student.

If there are individuals and groups who do wish to recognize an individual teacher or group of educators, they might want to consider a contribution in their name to a school’s PTA/O, or to any one of our partner organizations. Donations are tax deductible, and these groups routinely support programming in the Belmont Public Schools. They are happy to receive gifts in the name of an individual educator or group of educators.

If you have additional questions about this law and associated regulations, please ask the school administration.