Duveneck Elementary School
PTA Meeting
April 14, 2008
Held at Duveneck Library
Present: Melissa Fassler, Pearl Chow, Dianne Haydock, Marie Drez, Kim Robins, Julie Dyson, Kathryn Weller, Isabelle Cole, Kathleen Meagher, Pamela Wagner, Elizabeth Darby, Kristin Feitzinger, Gretchen De Andre, Ginny Hull, Jennifer Seto, Linda Van Gelder, Sheryl Klein, Jennifer Buenrostro
Absent PTA Executive Board Members: Laura Wolfe, Sue Pelosi
I. Call to Order. The meeting was called to order at 7:08 in the Duveneck Library.
II. Approval of Minutes. Minutes from the 3/10/08 Board meeting and the 3/19/08 General meeting were distributed. Motion to approve the 3/19/08 minutes by Marie Drez was seconded by Dianne Haydock. Motion was unanimously approved. Motion to approve the 3/10/08 minutes by Marie Drez was seconded by Dianne Haydock. Motion was unanimously approved.
Treasurer Report (Pamela Wagner)
A. March Check Report was distributed. Check request and deposit information was also circulated. Motion to approve March check report by Linda Van Gelder was seconded by Melissa Fassler. Motion was unanimously approved.
B. 2007-2008 Budget v. Actual Worksheet was distributed. Supplies check for $33,000 will show up in April. Remaining supplies budget and $10,000 in “Just Buy It” funds need to be spent. The idea of soliciting “Just Buy It” needs from teachers was discussed.
Parent Ed may go a bit (about $50) over budget. If necessary, we can likely find the necessary funds elsewhere in the budget.
Spruce Up Duveneck. Discussion regarding who is responsible for care of the garden outside of the principal’s office was discussed. The district was informed of needs, has formulated a plan and will take care of the garden going forward.
Proposed budget for next year was distributed. It will ultimately be approved by next year’s board.
Sources of funds (e.g., carry-over, reserves, direct ask, auction) have not been cemented at this point. PTA needs approximately $120,000 to fund supplies and proposed programs. A number of funding options were discussed. We are looking at ways to fundraise without tapping out volunteer pool. Ideas discussed included eliminating gift wrap, doing a direct appeal, taking a break from the auction, doing a scaled down version of Just Parties focusing on the biggest money makers (no one has yet volunteered to spearhead Just Parties but the nominating committee is meeting on Wednesday night).
Reserves schedule (including a list of proposed projects) was also distributed. Discussion regarding reserves and proposed projects ensued.
Technology budget was discussed. Kathleen sat down with a district specialist and two staff members to discuss priorities. Biggest teacher challenge is lack of laptops. Laptops are approximately $2,000 each. $25,000 in current budget would cover approximately one half of teachers this year.
Goal of this meeting’s budget discussion is to stimulate thinking. Additional discussion will take place at subsequent meetings.
President’s Report (Isabelle Cole). Topics were covered during Treasurer’s Report.
V. Parliamentarian Report (Kathryn Weller)
Bylaws. Have been completed and sent off. We are waiting to hear back from the district.
Honorary Service Award. Committee has been formed and includes Kathryn Weller, Linda van Gelder, Rebecca Robinson, and Kathy Merkle-Raymond. Sheryl Klein has agreed to host the event at her home on June 4th at 7:30 PM. Forms are available to nominate outgoing parents (i.e., parents whose last child is leaving Duveneck this year).
VI. Principal’s Report (Kathleen Meagher)
Spruce up Duveneck. Thank you to the 20+ people who participated.
STAR testing. 2nd-5th grade teachers are in the process of preparing students for STAR testing. Parents are encouraged to support children by enabling them to get plenty of sleep and alleviating stress when possible.
Parent survey. We had a great response rate, over 50% in each grade level. Kathleen and the Site Council are beginning to analyze the data.
Strategic plan. Community members have been asked to participate in surveys. The data will be disaggregated to enable us to study Duveneck-only responses.
VII. Faculty Report (Melissa Fassler)
A. Math curriculum night will be held on Wed. 4/16 at 6:30 in the MP room.
B. Parent surveys. Teachers are encouraged by preliminary feedback from Parent Survey, which seems to indicate that parents are positive about changes to address feedback provided in prior surveys.
C. Staff room improvements. Thanks for the couch. Staff is very appreciative of all the staff room improvements.
VIII. School Community (Jen Buenrostro). Another thank you to those who participated in Spruce Up Duveneck. The families accomplished a lot while participating in a great community building event.
IX. Social (Gretchen DeAndre and Julie Dyson). Spring social will be held on Fri. 5/30. Theme is Country Fair. Proposed activities include BBQ, ice cream cart, pie bake off, face painting, games and square dance caller. A poster or door decorating contest was discussed as was the idea of inviting families of incoming kinders. It was ultimately decided that other planned events for incoming kinders would provide better opportunities for welcoming families.
Parent Ed (Kim Robins and Sheryl Klein)
A. “Mothers of Boys: Helpful Hints on Raising Them” will be held in the MP room on 4/29 after drop off. Karen Friedland Brown of the Parents’ Place will be speaking. Refreshments will be served.
B. Madeline Levine. Eight to ten parents gathered at Starbucks after the recent event at Gunn. Over 1000 people attended the event which was taped. Information regarding how to view the session will be circulated to the community. Duveneck contributed $50 toward the event.
XI. Site Council (Linda van Gelder).
A. Parent Survey. Council is busy going through results. They will communicate them to the community.
B. Student Survey. A survey of 3rd-5th graders is complete. Questions complement the Parent Survey. Responses are being analyzed.
C. New members. Site council needs two new people for two-year terms.
XII. New Business
A. Measure A event. Melissa Caswell has asked the PTA to co-sponsor a Measure A informational event for the Duveneck-St. Francis Neighborhood Association in the MP room on 5/6. Motion to co-sponsor the event by Sheryl Klein was seconded by Isabelle Cole. Motion was unanimously approved. Idea of reaching out to other neighborhood associations (e.g., Crescent Park) was also discussed.
B. Measure A phone banks. Will be held on 4/23, 5/6 and 5/13.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:55 pm.
Next meeting is scheduled for Mon., May 12, 2008 in the Duveneck Library
Respectfully submitted,
Kristin Feitzinger, Secretary
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