A Gift Too Generous?

Ethical Educator

Scenario:

A medium-size school district with a limited administrative staff has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The superintendent had to lay off one administrator in mid-summer for budgetary reasons and another contracts the virus with serious symptoms as the school year begins, leaving the rest to shoulder the added burden of covering the work. Salaries have been frozen for several years so at holiday time, the superintendent gives cash gifts of $200 to each of his six direct reports to express his deep appreciation.

The money comes from his own pocket, but are these gifts appropriate?