Duveneck Elementary School
PTA Meeting
September 10, 2007
Held at Duveneck Library
Present: Sheryl Klein, Marie Drez, Chitra Swaminathan, Sue Purdy Pelosi, Kathryn Weller, Liz Darby, Kim Robins, Kathy Jordan, Jennifer Seto, Gretchen DeAndre, Julie Dyson, Linda van Gelder, Dianne Haydock, Kathleen Meagher, Barbara Susco, Laura Wolfe, Isabelle Cole, Kristin Feitzinger
Absent PTA Executive Board Members: none
I. Call to Order. The meeting was called to order at 7:05 in the Duveneck Library.
II. Approval of Minutes. Minutes from 5/17/07 Meeting were approved. November PTA Board Meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 6th.
III. Appoint Treasurer. Motion to appoint Chitra Swaminathan as Treasurer was approved.
V. Treasurer’s Report (Chitra Swaminathan)
A. Budget Review and Approval. Proposed budget, which had already been posted for the required 10 days for PTA membership review, was distributed. Motion to allocate $300 to fund expenses related to Reflections art program (e.g., posters, appreciation for judges) approved. Amended budget will be posted and voted on next meeting.
B. June –August Transactions Report. June-August transactions report was distributed and approved.
VI. Ways and Means Report (Marie Drez)
A. Majority of single check order forms have been collected and processed, though a few more are trickling in.
B. Of the 260 checks received, 85% of families participated in the PTA. The Board wants to encourage the entire community (parents, teachers, grandparents) to join. Last year, Duveneck received PTA recognition for its high participation rate.
Single check order forms will be distributed to teachers and staff, so that they can join PTA and order yearbooks, logo wear, etc.
VII. President’s Report (Isabelle Cole)
A. Welcome. Isabelle Cole welcomed Principal Kathleen Meagher to her first PTA Meeting.
B. Snack Sign Up. A snack sign-up sheet was passed around.
C. Organizational Charts. Board members were encouraged to look at their organizational charts and contact the people falling under their umbrella to ensure that those people understand their responsibilities and are still willing to perform them. The Duveneck website should have an updated list of volunteers. Isabelle Cole will send an email regarding major positions yet to be filled. Discussion regarding the nominating process and volunteer solicitation ensued. Ideas such as improved documentation and a “job faire” to better inform the community of available positions and requirements were discussed.
D. International Potluck. International Potluck will be held on Friday, September 14th. Pearl Chow is organizing this new event.
E. Communication. Isabelle Cole discussed the purposes of ENews and the Duveneck Yahoo! group. ENews is for official school and PTA communication. It is a district-wide program. The Duveneck Yahoo! Group is to facilitate community via informal communication among parents. We are currently planning to keep both avenues of communication as they are intended to serve different purposes.
F. Lunch Fund Money. A motion to approve the allocation of $100 of Scholarship funds to pay for incidental lunch expenses was approved.
G. After School Programs. The PTA has not historically been directly involved in implementation of after school programs. The view is that these are outside vendors who serve the Duveneck community (their customers) and rent space from the school. If community members are not happy with a particular program, they are encouraged to raise any issues directly with the vendor. If enough parents are dissatisfied with a program, its subscription will suffer, and the program will not survive. Space for new programs is very limited. Principal Meagher is currently looking into two new Spanish programs that have been researched by parents, and will select one as soon as possible, space permitting.
VIII. Principal’s Report (Kathleen Meagher)
A. Thank You. Principal Meagher expressed appreciation to the Duveneck community for the warm welcome that she has received. She also mentioned this month’s book club book, tomorrow’s performance by the Ethiopian dance troop, and the International Potluck.
B. Play Structure. We will be receiving a replacement piece for the slide next week. All in all, the structure has been working well, despite initial concerns. Options for supplementing structure will be explored and discussed at future meetings.
C. Chalking Machine. Potential acquisition and use of a chalking machine to enhance field space was discussed. Issues with existing AYSO soccer field (fall) and Little League baseball (spring) lines were also discussed.
V. New Business
A. Coffee Cart. Potential coffee cart options were discussed, among other forms of teacher appreciation.
B. Special Projects. As discussed last spring, the PTA needs to spend down its reserves to the $50,000 guideline set by the Palo Alto PTA Council. This creates a one-time fund of approximate $65,000 for special projects. Those projects previously identified were: 1) kinder play structure enhancements, 2) staff room improvements, 3) MP room improvements. These will be discussed in more detail at a PTA meeting later this fall. Principal Meagher will check in with the staff again to get their current insight regarding priorities.
C. Sally Foster Gift Wrap. Kathryn Weller is organizing this year. Sales will be Internet-only, and distribution will be through the mail. While purchases benefiting Duveneck can be made year round, focused marketing will occur just after the auction, from 10/19/07 to 11/9/07.
D. Auction-Related Expenses. Motion to allocate up to $400 to auction-related expenses for materials to display information regarding auction items was approved. Materials will be kept at Duveneck and will be available for future auctions and other events.
VI. School Community Report (Sue Purdy Pelosi)
International Potluck. People should be encouraged to bring any dish they would like to share!
Volunteers. Need volunteers for teacher appreciation week and Spruce Up Duveneck.
Spruce Up Duveneck. Principal Meagher will check in with teachers to see if they have any ideas for Spruce Up Duveneck projects. In addition to identifying projects in advance, the idea of creating some fun community event (e.g., a pancake breakfast) around the Spruce Up Duveneck event in order to increase participation was discussed.
VII. Parent Education (Kim Robins)
Sep. 29th. School board candidates’ forum will be held in the Duveneck library. All five candidates will be invited to attend. In addition to a brief introductory statement, candidates will answer questions from a moderator. The community will be solicited for input on questions.
Nov. 7th or 8th. Panel discussion to help answer questions regarding entering middle school will be held at Duveneck.
Social (Gretchen DeAndre and Julie Dyson)
Ice Skating. Wednesday is the sign-up for the ice skating parties. The social chairs will do their best to avoid scheduled school events and auction parties, but spaces are first come, first served.
Harvest Carnival. Promotion of the event is beginning on campus. Status report will be given at the next PTA meting.
IX. Site Council (Linda van Gelder)
Site plan. Site council held its meeting this afternoon and went over the site plan. They will continue their discussion next month.
Kinder play structure. Initial estimates for enhancing the kinder play structure exceed the amount that has been set aside for that project.
Auction. There will be scholarships available to anyone who wants to attend. The auction is meant to be a social, community-building event as well as a way to make needed money for the school.
Outreach training. Room parent training for outreach was discussed.
Open Site Council seat. There is currently an open site council seat. The position will be announced in the next two editions of Duveneck Dispatch, and new elections will be held as quickly as possible.
Audit Report (Jennifer Seto). Audit report was disseminated and approved.
Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Kristin Feitzinger, Secretary
Next Meeting: October 8, 2007 at 7:00 pm in the Duveneck Library
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