March PTO Meeting Minutes

March 18, 2009  PTO Meeting Minutes

In Attendance:  Tammy, Christine, Jenn, Ann, Don, Nicki, Sally, Cheri, Cindy,

Caitlyn, Emily, Tanya, Amy, Ron, Ron, Jennifer, Tara, Christena

Tammy called meeting to order at 7 pm and welcomed everyone.  Treats from Market Day were provided. 

Minutes were reviewed from the February meeting.  Cheri motioned to approve the minutes.  Christine seconded this motion and the minutes were passed.

Parent Council Report - Amy

• Edgewood Reading Month is a Racing theme and a car will be assembled.  They held their Family Fun Night at Impressions 5 for $200.  They raised $1500.  A Grandparent Tea was also held there.
• Bennett Woods did a pizza kit fundraiser and raised $2000.  They are also doing Build a Book. 
• All schools did a science fair.
• OHS students are going to London and Paris.
• Wardcliff’s newspaper was shared.

Principal’s Report

• Tara thanked PTO for the Auction Night.  She also thanked parents for attending the community forums.  Cornell has done a great job attending. 
• Spring is here!  Parent Teacher Conferences are coming up on the week of the 23^rd.  We hare hoping for high attendance.
• Jennifer Keith’s Build a Book night is approaching.
• April 21^st is kindergarten informational night.
• April 28^th is kindergarten round up. 
• We will email about begindergarten often.  There is a high interest so register early.
• Strings concert is tomorrow night for Fine arts.  There is a strings assembly at 2:30 on March 27^th.
• Tara explained what RtI (response to intervention) is and told about how our staff in moving forward with the MiBLSi grant which addresses behavior and learning.  Other schools involved with the grant have experiences positive results.  Central and Cornell are piloting Rti but we are really 3 to 5 years out of full Implementation.  The group discussed Universal Screeners; their benefits and the type of things they test.  We hope Cornell will be looked on favorably when it comes to this grant approval. 

President Report

• Tammy is looking for PTO board members for next year.  Please contact her if you are interested in a position.
• Tammy is working on a budget for next year.
• Items left over from the auction will be displayed during Parent Teacher Conferences. There will be a raffle with tickets sold at with  $5 or $1 each.  Items include a picnic table, spirit wear and other smaller items. 

Treasurer’s Report

• See report
• $15,000 was made from our Silent Auction
• Science Fair was reported
• Enrichment grants were turned in
• Family Fun Night expenses are reported
• Jason Colthorp was given a gift card for his services at our Silent Auction

New Business

• 1^st Grade Interns book project was presented – they taught students the writing process starting with a graphic organizer.  The topic is “about me”.  Then writing is transferred onto lined pages in a logical sequence.  Next they sketch into a rough draft booklet.  Finally the book is typed and put into a bond book.  The bare books cost $1.75 each.  Berridge and Petersburg have paid for $40 of them but would like a bit of support from PTO, the invoice is $70.  Christine motioned to reimburse the interns for this amount.  Cheri seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. 
• Computer Lab Microphones – Jenn wrote her enrichment grant for microphones for the computer lab to be used school wide.  There are 31 computers in the lab, Jenn asked for 21.  They cost $10 a piece.  Jenn would like the other 11 to be funded by PTO.  Christine made the motion to support this funding and Cheri seconded it.  It was passed unanimously.
• Green School Status – Tanya in uncertain whether or not we will be approval.  Some activities are not school wide and others are planned but haven’t taken place.  Tammy mentioned that we are planning an Earth Day celebration because we have some trees that may be donated.  Kim is working on the trees.  The application is due April 3^rd.  Nicky, Ann’s intern is planning a project with her 2^nd graders to help educate our school.  Tara doesn’t mind waiting until next year to apply.  Tara wondered if they would share a grant sample with us.  No vote is needed on whether or not to submit the grant this year.  Tanya will check into this more and decide with Tara and Tammy.  Are there ongoing things that we will need to do year after year to keep our status?  Tanya thinks that it is not a slam dunk this year, she will discuss it with Taylor further. 
• Granger Recycling Fee - $59.50 per month to recycle cardboard, plastics, aluminum, and newspaper.   Granger does all of the sorting for us.  A concrete slab must be poured prior to the bin being delivered.  The slab would cost up to $1000.  Is this charge only during the school year?  Could we suspend the costs during the summer?  Chippewa has a program, how do they fund it?  We will suspend this issue until the weather gets better. 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

• Mileage Club – starts April 30^th.  Cindy is very excited about the prizes.   It is very incentive driven with lunch with Tara will be the grand prize.  Hopefully teachers can really motivate students.  Kim will be organizing guest appearances.  Cindy has a lot of volunteers – Hooray!!!  Thank you Cindy!!!
• Long Range Planning – Christie made a summary sheet of her experience.  Please feel free to contact our representatives Christie and Jeremy is you have any questions.  The committee meets tomorrow to create a recommendation for the board.  This committee will make a generic recommendation.  Tanya mentioned the order on Christy’s blue sheet is not up to date or perhaps not correct.  March 23 or 30^th this will be presented to the board.  The timeline implementation is uncertain. 
• Auction Results are coming.
• Family Fun Night – April 17^th.  Volunteers are needed!  3 fraternities have committed to volunteer.  No theme baskets or 50/50 this year to give parents a break on fundraising.  The auction did better than expected.  There will be 12 carnival games with prizes.  10 of the games will have raffle tickets to be drawn for prizes.  NO CLOWNS!!!  Tammy is working on some live entertainment for this event.  There will be a variety show this year as in the past. 
• Fall Fund Raisers – on hold until we know better what the Long Range Planning outcomes hold.

ADJOURNMENT

• Motion to adjourn by Jenn and Ann seconds the motion.  All were in favor.