SUPPORTING TEACHERS

• How do I buy food for PD for my teachers?

Food for teachers may not be purchased with Student Activity Agency Account funds. If you elect to pay through BPS funds, there are two options: (1) submit a requisition and PO or (2) an employee may be reimbursed for a purchase. Wherever possible, schools should rely on option 1, submitting a requisition and a PO. The District’s policy on the purchase of food can be found in the purchasing manual.

• What about funding holiday parties and teacher appreciation?

Neither BPS funds nor student activity funds may be used for teacher appreciation or holiday parties. If parents or students fundraise for such a reason, they are operating as private individuals. For security purposes, cash should not be kept on school premises.

• Can I pay for teacher time for overnight or extended field trips?

This is an allowed stipend for BPS employees. Stipends should be paid consistent with the District’s stipend policy. Student activity funds may not be used for such stipends.

• A teacher is accompanying a student to the hospital. How do I get them back afterwards? Can I reimburse a cab or Uber back to the school?

The Student Activity Agency Account cannot be used for this purpose. An employee may be reimbursed with BPS funds. Alternatively, if the employee uses their own car, please refer to Superintendent’s Circular FIN-02 for details on mileage reimbursement. Parking tickets or towing expenses incurred while on City business are not eligible for reimbursement.

• A teacher’s parent passed away and we would like to send flowers. How do we do that?

The Student Activity Agency Account cannot be used to deposit cash collected for this purpose. Colleagues and friends who wish to privately collect money should not deposit those funds into any City account. Funds collected for this purpose should be considered to be private funds and should not be deposited into the Student Activity Agency Account.