As the holidays approach, it is not uncommon for teachers and other school staff members to receive gifts from students and their families. Giving gifts to show appreciation and thanks is a wonderful part of the holiday season. I know that our faculty and staff are always grateful for the kindness and generosity of our school community. However, I must share with you that pubic school employees are subject to specific parameters for accepting such gifts. These parameters, designed to safeguard public employees from conflicts of interest and the appearance of favoritism, were developed by the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission. The State Ethics Commission provides the following guidance for public employees, which can also be found at link to MGL
Personal Gifts
In general, public employees (including teachers, paraprofessionals, secretaries, etc.) may not accept any gift worth $50.00 or more that is given because of the position that he or she holds. Public employees may accept gifts that are worth less than $50.00. Still, they are required to disclose in writing that they have done so if, based on the specific circumstances, a reasonable person would think that the public employee might unduly show favor to the giver or the giver’s child, or be influenced by the giver. Gifts to the Classroom or School. The law regulates gifts to public employees, not gifts to public agencies. Therefore, parents and/or students may give gifts to a particular public school, or a specific classroom, and the $50.00 limit does not apply.
Class Gifts
The Ethics Commission recently created an exemption to permit “class gifts” to teachers. A teacher may accept a gift from public school students or their parents and guardians, with an aggregate value of up to $150.00, if the gift is identified only as being from the class and the identity of the givers and the individual amounts given are not disclosed to the recipient. Given that the donor(s) are unknown to the public employee, gifts received under this exemption are not required to be disclosed. A teacher may accept a class gift and individual gifts from persons who did not contribute to the class gift. Unlike class gifts, which are not required to be disclosed, personal gifts must be declined or disclosed as described above. These guidelines are designed to ensure that students and their families can continue to give gifts while protecting school employees from the appearance of undue favor or influence.
Please do not hesitate to contact my office if you have any questions regarding this information. Please have a wonderful and safe holiday season! Gregory Myers, Superintendent
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