October 2010 Meeting Minutes (Draft)
CORNELL PTO MINUTES
October 18, 2010
Call to order 7:00pm
WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS
Present: Sally Sproat, Jason Gutting, Wendy Johnson, Cindy Roark, Carol Reilly, Rachel Gutting, Jamie Baldwin, Eric Baldwin, Vickie Lehtonen, Donna McInerney, Latoya Faulk, Srilakshmi Polu, Cindy Erickson, Xavier Williams, Stacey Tanay, Janet Moore, Kathy Fortin, Tara Fry, Jennifer Nevins-Lacasse, Leah Kelly, Amy Crites, and Deb Baughman.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion to approve September meeting minutes was made by Wendy Johnson, seconded by Jennifer Nevins-Lacasse. Motion carried.
ADDITION TO AGENDA
Motion for addition to the agenda and change of order in agenda was made by Jason Gutting, seconded by Wendy Johnson. Motion carried.
GUEST SPEAKERS
School board candidates Amy Crites and Deb Baughman each gave brief introduction and statement regarding the upcoming election. Steve Vagnozzi submitted a statement that was read by Sally Sproat.
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
• Computers on Wheels (COW) is a wheeled cabinet containing wireless laptop computers that are now being used in the classrooms with the Reading Street program. Currently have 2 COWs and expect to get more.
• MEAP is going well for 3rd and 4th graders – good attitudes and attendance.
• Parent teacher conferences coming up; hoping for 100% attendance, last fall had 98.5%.
• Art club is being funded by OEF strategic fund
FUNDRAISING
• Innisbrook sale going well, totaling nearly $12,000 in sales so far.
• Discussed possibility of switching to another fundraising company that would provide a larger percentage to the PTO and has fewer prizes.
• Rachel Gutting plans to poll parents for other fundraising ideas.
• Great Pumpkin Raffle raised $157.50 for safety patrol.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
• Thank you to teachers for meeting refreshments.
• Thank you to Kathy Fortin and Jamie Baldwin for organizing Walk to School Day.
• Thank you to Jim Berridge for repaving walking path at reduced cost.
• Thank you to the Barkham family for providing the pumpkins and flowers in front of the school.
• Brian Ruh has agreed to get rid of weeds in garden in front of school.
• No enrichment grant requests have been received. Enrichment grant deadline is in January, unless extended.
• Family Fun Night will be April 15; still need chairperson.
• Book Fair starts Nov 1.
• Teacher appreciation luncheon will be Nov 2nd.
TREASURER’S REPORT
• Spreadsheets of accounts and budget available.
• Popcorn sales exceeded anticipated amount by nearly $600.
• September PTO Miscellaneous expense of $50 was for non-profit state filing fee ($20) and annual overdraft protection fee ($30).
• PTO currently paying appropriate taxes for purchases used in fundraising.
• Proposed budget will include amendment expenses for OEF Banquet Table and resealing walking path.
GRADE REPRESENTATIVES
• 4th grade still in need of parent volunteers for some PTO committees.
• 3rd grade looking forward to conclusion of MEAP testing.
PARENT COUNCIL
• Questions for the school board candidates regarding budget and curriculum standards will be presented at Oct. 25th council meeting.
• Any additional questions for candidates or school board can be submitted to Cindy Roark and she will present them at the council meetings.
NEW BUSINESS – FUNDING DECISIONS
• Approval of 2010-11 PTO budget was tabled until November meeting due to confusion about several expense categories. At November meeting, Jason will provide clarification for budget expense categories – Scholarships, Classroom Fee Offset, and Field Trip.
• Motion for PTO to cover cost of copying school directory (up to $100) was made by Cindy Roark, seconded by Wendy Johnson. Motion carried.
• Tara Fry presented background regarding Supplemental Reading Program which is targeted for 4th graders who need additional reading support. Discussed possibility of PTO providing $1100 Supplemental Reading Program Grant to be paid in two equal installments (winter and spring) and split between Nichole Berridge and Lori Greenberg. Motion to add this grant as line item expense made by Wendy Johnson, seconded by Jennifer Nevins-Lacasse. Motion carried.
• Extra headphones still needed for approximately 59 students. Motion to allocate $295 for headphones made by Kathy Fortin, seconded by Donna McInerney. Motion carried.
• CD listening stations are needed in all classrooms in order to fully utilize the Reading Street program. Motion to allocate $2800 for CD listening stations made by Wendy Johnson, seconded by Jamie Baldwin. Motion carried. (Money will only be allocated if Technology Department cannot cover cost.)
• Motion for PTO to allocate $50 for contribution towards OEF Awards banquet table for Volunteer Award recipient (Connie Tumas) made by Carol Reilly, seconded by Jason Gutting. Motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS – WEEKEND SURVIVAL KITS
• Tara Fry provided information regarding the Weekend Survival Kit program. This program distributes backpacks containing non-perishable food every other Friday to those students in the free/reduced lunch program. Backpacks and food will be provided by Mid-Michigan Food Bank and the Haslett/Okemos Rotary Club. PTO will need to provide volunteers to fill/distribute the backpacks and may be asked to cover incidental costs.
SOCIAL
• MSU Hockey Night planned for Saturday, Oct 23. Jamie Baldwin is coordinating the event and is willing to do it again in February. She will also investigate the possibility of a MSU basketball event.
• Movie morning planned for Saturday, Nov 6. Movie will be Megamind 3-D.
• Rollerskating at EDRU planned for Thursday, Nov 11.
OLD BUSINESS
• Shopping portal (schoolmall.com) has not yet been made available through PTO website.
Motion to adjourn meeting was made by Jason Gutting, seconded by Wendy Johnson. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:35pm.
