April 2010 PTO Meeting Minutes
Cornell Elementary PTO Meeting Minutes - April 21, 2010
Attendees: Tammy Deppong, Jennifer Nevins-Lacasse, Sally Sproat, Tara Bogle, Stacey Tanay, Cindy Roark, Jason Gutting, Kris Lee, Tara Fry, Tonya VanOrder, Carla Sabatini, Cheri Meyer, Wendy Johnson
I. Call to Order
Tammy Deppong called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
II. Welcome by President Tammy Deppong
Tammy welcomed all attendees and thanked them for their attendance.
Each attendee introduced themselves and provided the grade(s) of their
children.
III. Approval of Minutes
Tammy provided time for attendees to review the meeting minutes.
A motion to approve the March 24, 2010 meeting minutes was provided
by Cheri Meyer and seconded by Cindy Roark.
The meeting minutes were approved unanimously.
IV. Additions to the Agenda
a. Additional Rugs for School Entrance (discussed later).
b. Green School Announcement – Tonya VanOrder announced that Cornell Elementary School has achieved Green School certificationand is the first school in the Okemos District to hold this title.
c. A speaker from the nature conservancy will be coming to Cornell the week of April 26 to speak with five classrooms. The PTO in conjunction with Capital Area Landscape and Nurseryman's Association (CALNA, http://www.calna.org/) isproviding a seed packet to each student.
V. Parent Council Report – Cindy Roark
a. Cindy informed the group that Cornell will host the parent-council meeting
in December of 2010.
b. The morning dates for the joint Kinawa/Chippewa meetings were
discussed and have been approved.
c. Cindy mentioned that Central Elementary School has a unique teacher
appreciation effort. Kris Lee, current president of the Central PTO described the
program. Each day is a different theme and the program is driven
by the students. For example, one day is fruit day and each
student provides their teacher with a piece of fruit. Another day is
bookmark day and the students give their teachers bookmarks that
they have made.
Cornell Elementary PTO Meeting Minutes - April 21, 2010
d. Tentative staffing assignments for 2010-11 are available on the
Okemos School website
e. General discussion at the parent-council meeting also included the
shortage of funding and a lack of understanding in the community
about the dire state of educational funding. IT might be helpful to
have a community information night.
f. The current Kinawa parent group will leave $2,000 for the 2010-11
school year for after school clubs.
VI. Principal’s Report – Tara Fry
a. It is administrative professional’s week. Tara asked PTO attendees to spread the word and stop in and say thank you to Celeste and Melissa.
b. There have been numerous new families stopping by Cornell to tour and
speak with office staff. For example three families tonight stopped over
from Wardcliffe to tour Cornell and speak with Tara.
d. Tara discussed the Cornell internal staffing changes that will occur in the
fall of 2010. Ms. Schoen will be re-assigned to a kindergarten class, Ms. Malkus is currently un-assigned but is high on the seniority list if otherteachers leave the system.
The fifth grade teachers will be going to Kinawa. Some of the existing room designations will be re-organized. For instance the music room is moving and there will no longer be an empty classroom. It is expected that Cornell will have approximately 370 students in the fall
of 2010. Currently there are approximately 340 students at Cornell. May 17 and 18, 2010 will be professional development days focused onteam building and blending cultures. There will be no school for students on these days.
k. The current kindergarten roundup is at 41 students.
l. Begindergartner night is Thursday, May 6, 2010.
m. Tara thanked the PTO for Family Fun Night.
n. The last school board meeting approved the early release times for the
2010-11 school year. This will include 13 early release days by two hours
per day across the district. It will also include 2 full days of no school for
professional development that will occur near the beginning of the school
year.
o. It is anticipated that the elementary school day will start at approximately
9:00 a.m. and the Kinawa school day will begin around 8:45-8:50 a.m.
p. 4th grade students as well as 5th grade students will be a part of the year
end school assembly. The school is working on streamlining the agenda
as well as the start time of the assembly.
q. There is a bake sale next week (week of April 26) to support Ele’s Place and the American Cancer society and sponsored by Student Council. Remember to send in change with your children for bake saleitems.
r. April 29 is the 1st grade music program date.
VII. President’s Report – Tammy Deppong
a. Tammy discussed a potential request for PTO funding to purchase a
school emblem (spirit wear) shirt for all school staff excluding lunchroom
helpers. It was agreed that this was a good idea. Tammy will bring a formal proposal to the next PTO meeting.
b. Tammy attended the 8:45 a.m., Wednesday, April 21, joint Kinawa /
Chippewa parent meeting. Tammy suggested that the PTO send a portion of money to the
Kinawa parent group for the 5th grade teachers as well as the 4thand 5th graders that are moving over to Kinawa next year. This will be further discussed with the other PTO organizations. It was suggested that a sum of $500 be provided by each elementary
school PTO organization.
VIII. Treasurer’s Report – Jennifer Nevins-Lacasse
a. Jennifer discussed the current month income as well as expenditures.
b. It is currently estimated that the PTO will have a year end balance of
approximately $23,000.
c. It was suggested that monthly bank account summaries be provided with
the monthly PTO budget report. Jason Gutting will implement this
additional information for the 2010-11 school year.
IX. New Business
· Earth Day Celebration A speaker from the nature conservancy is coming to Cornell per
item b in the additions to agenda section above. Each day this week is a different theme for the students.
· Entry Rugs - Tammy requested approval for the purchasing of two additional
rugs for the main entry way into Cornell. The rugs will cost $754.50. These rugs will be the same as the recently placed new rug but the school emblem will not be included. One rug will be placed on each side of the new rug so all three rugs will be in line as you enter the school. This provides a uniform look and feel for our school entrance. Jason Gutting volunteered to pick up the rugs from any metropolitan Lansing location to reduce shipping costs. Tammy will inquire about the specific shipping requirements. Jason Gutting moved to approve the additional rugs purchase asrequested and this was seconded by Jennifer Nevins-Lacasse. The purchase was unanimously approved.
X. Committee Reports
a. Mileage Club
The mileage club is going well and the kids love it. Mileage club occurs on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at lunchtime.
b. Lugnuts Outing
The outing is scheduled for Friday, May 21
Approximately 94 tickets have been sold/reserved.
c. Summer Play Dates
There was discussion on having a representative for each grade level and having different days for each grade. The idea that seemed most popular is a 1st /2nd playdate and a 3rd/4th playdate.
d. Family Fun Night Final Report – Tammy Deppong
Tammy described each FFN activity and the associated gross income.. In general expenses were under budget. Tammy estimated $10,000 in net income.
Market Day, Fall Fundraisers, and various PTO committees
Volunteers are needed for numerous activities.
The market day volunteer requirements are fairly straight forward.
Meet and communicate with the Market Day representative.
Coordinate organization of purchased products at the
monthly distribution day. Enlist the help of parents and
other volunteers to separate and organize family orders.
The market day pickup is generally between the hours of
4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
The Innisbrook fundraising chairperson is Rachel Gutting.
Tammy discussed and distributed a volunteer form prepared by
Sally Sproat for the 2010-11 school year. The form lists the PTO
board positions as well as PTO activities. The form will be distributed to Cornell parents as well as other PTO organizations.
The week of May 3 is teacher appreciation week at Cornell Elementary
School.
Kris Lee spoke about the upcoming rummage sale at Central Elementary
School. Kris discussed requested donations and how the rummage sale
typically works each year. It is more of a service to Central families that a
fundraising event. Everyone was encouraged to donate and attend.
XI. Old Business
There was no old business to discuss.
XII. Adjournment
A motion to adjourn was provided by Jennifer Nevins-Lacasse and
seconded by Cheri Meyer. The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
