Duveneck Elementary School
PTA Meeting
October 8, 2007
Held at Duveneck Library
Present: Sheryl Klein, Marie Drez, Chitra Swaminathan, Kathryn Weller, Liz Darby, Kim Robins, Gretchen DeAndre, Julie Dyson, Linda van Gelder, Dianne Haydock, Kathleen Meagher, Melissa Fassler, Laura Wolfe, Isabelle Cole, Kristin Feitzinger, Jennifer Buenrostro, Catherine Crystal Foster, May Herr, Susie Hwang, Steve Turnbull, Frances Sterling, Sarah Sands
Absent PTA Executive Board Members: Sue Purdy Pelosi, Jennifer Seto
I. Call to Order. The meeting was called to order at 6:05 in the Duveneck Library.
II. Auction Report (May Herr and Susie Hwang). Auction was held on Saturday night. Pamela Wagner and Ann Ritchie spent the rest of the weekend closing the books. Preliminary revenue is approximately $62,000 ($22,000 for auction items; $40,000 for parties). Approximately 170 people attended the auction. People are still signing up for parties that are not full.
III. Approval of Minutes (Kristin Feitzinger). Minutes from 9/10/07 Meeting were approved. Minutes from 5/29/07 Meeting were also approved.
IV. Harvest Carnival Report (Steve Turnbull and Frances Sterling). Preparations are underway for the Harvest Carnival, which will be held at Duveneck on October 27, 2007. Chairpeople gave a detailed report of activities (attached).
V. PIE Report (Sarah Sands). Donations to date are approximately $550,000 district-wide. Duveneck’s participation rate is currently 9%. A second donation letter will be sent in the middle of October.
VI. President’s Report (Isabelle Cole)
A. Yahoo! Group. PTA does not sponsor and is not affiliated with the Yahoo! Group. The goal of the Duveneck Yahoo! group is to facilitate informal communication among the community.
B. After School Programs. Nora Broadsky has volunteered to take on after school programs. She hopes to set up a system to submit ideas for new programs (for next year since this year is full) and provide a mechanism for soliciting feedback.
Room Parents. Guidelines for room parent communication were discussed.
D. Playground Equipment. Request for money to fund 4 small soccer goals (@ approximately $40) and 12 soccer balls (@ approximately $6) was discussed. Motion to allocate up to $350 for this purpose was approved. Funds will be allocated from the “Supplies” budget line item.
VII. Treasurer’s Report (Chitra Swaminathan).
A. 2007-8 Budget. New budget reflecting the $300 allocation to the Reflections program was distributed after having been posted for the school community to review for the requisite 10 days (attached). Motion to adopt the new budget was approved.
B. Reserves. Discussion regarding plan for spending down approximately $65,000 in reserves ensued. People are currently gathering staff input and more detailed cost information on a number of projects (e.g., staff room improvements, MP room improvements, enhancements to play structures) and will present an update at the next PTA meeting.
VIII. Principal’s Report (Kathleen Meagher).
A. Enrollment. 11th day enrollment was 477.
Kinder Play Structure. Originally was to be funded as part of the site block grant; however, now will be funded by the district. Plans for new structure are posted on the window of the principal’s office. Kinder teachers have reviewed the plans and are enthusiastic. New structure requires moving the planter boxes. They will be move to outside Room 1 (on Alester). As part of the “remodel,” part of the fence will be moved, expanding the kinder playyard and enabling students to play wall ball against Room 1. Site block money will be spent on moving planters and ensure proper irrigation. Principal Meagher will inform school neighbors on Alester of the planned changes to the landscape. Current plan is to begin moving planters soon and for the structure to go in over winter break.
C. Walk and Roll. Week was a success thanks to many parent volunteers.
D. Book Club. Theme this month is “cooperation.”
E. Bike Rodeo. Third grade bike rodeo is coming up on October 18.
F. Teacher Training. Many teachers have been out recently for district-wide training.
G. Kid-by-Kid. Three times a year (fall, winter, spring), teacher, principal and appropriate specialists meet to discuss each child in the school (e.g., strengths, needs, strategies). Winter kid-by-kid discussions include all teachers in a given grade level.
IX. New Business. None.
X. School Community (Jen Buenrostro).
A. International Potluck. It was a fabulous event, with a great turnout. We are hoping to repeat it next year.
B. Spuce Up Duveneck. They are still looking for a volunteer to head this effort. They are thinking of ways to make it a fun community event and are hoping to solicit ideas from the staff regarding projects.
XI. Parent Ed (Kim Robbins and Sheryl Klein).
A. Transition to Middle School. Panel event will be held on November 15th in the Duveneck library.
B. Girl Friendships. They are hoping to have a psychologist speak toward the end of January on the topic of girls and friendships.
XII. Faculty Report (Melissa Fassler). Melissa discussed Math Network and other issues regarding math curriculum.
XIII. Social Report (Gretchen DeAndre and Julie Dyson). Ice skating parties are set for the evenings of Wednesday, November 14th (3rd-5th grades) and Friday, November 16th (K-2nd grade).
XIV. Site Council (Linda van Gelder). Site council recently participated in an afternoon retreat. At its recent meeting, members reviewed and approved the site plan and discussed the site block grant. Funds had been set aside for the kinder structure, assemblies and staff consultants. One assembly has been held, but additional money remains. The consultant will be meeting with staff during Friday’s inservice day. Next meeting site council will: discuss playground update, begin work on survey, and review site plan.
XV. Ways and Means (Marie Drez). No report.
XVI. Other (Kathryn Weller). Sally Foster gift wrap sales begin on November 19th. Kathryn stressed that sales will be Internet only. Anyone without Internet access should contact her for assistance ordering.
Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Kristin Feitzinger, Secretary
Next Meeting: November 6, 2007 at 7:00 pm in the Duveneck Library
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