[swootton]

We are a 5th year going into 6th year team. For the first 2 1/2 years we had one teacher as a mentor who the school paid a stipend out of the robotics funds. The school does not contribute monetarily to the team so this money came directly out of the funds raised through grants and fundraising. Starting in the 4th year the stipend money was directed to the two lead mentors including myself. The stipends are right around $2000 each for the lead mentors.

The team has made a policy of not charging trip related expenses to either lead mentor and to our transportation mentor that tows the trailer to each event as they are all required to attend each event. We recently revised this to include any mentor that is required to attend an event as our drive coach is a former driver and now a mentor. Any other mentor that chooses to travel with the team can gat a discounted seat on the bus and rooms at the same cost as the team.

Also any mentor that has travel related expenses can submit a request for reimbursement. The amount is based upon mileage at the rate used by the IRS for that year for mileage deductions which is currently $0.54 per mile plus tolls.

With the amount of time put in by our mentors they should not have to spend their own money to attend any event that they are "required" to attend.