Duveneck Elementary School
PTA Meeting
January 14, 2008
Held at Duveneck Library
Present: Kristin Feitzinger, Isabelle Cole, Kathryn Weller, Pamela Wagner, Dianne Haydock, Julie Dyson, Gretchen DeAndre, Sue Pelosi, Jennifer Seto, Laura Wolfe, Kim Robins, Catherine Crystal Foster, Kathleen Meagher, Liz Darby, Lena Grodin, Jennifer Buenrostro, Linda van Gelder, Chitra Swaminathan, Sarah Sands
Absent PTA Executive Board Members: Sheryl Klein, Marie Drez
I. Call to Order. The meeting was called to order at 7:05 in the Duveneck Library.
II. Approval of Minutes. Minutes from 12/10/07 Meeting were approved.
PiE update (Sarah Sands). There are four weeks left in this year’s campaign, which ends on 2/14/08. So far, the district has raised $1.6 million of its $2.0 million goal. 40% of Duveneck families have donated to date. Last year 50% donated by campaign end. For this year, district-wide participation is about 42%. There will be lots of communication regarding PiE in the coming weeks, including especially the fact that classroom aides are paid for with PiE dollars. There will be PiE volunteers at tables during drop off on three mornings next week. Other ideas for increasing participation were discussed, including the idea of posting the names of donors.
Treasurer’s Report. Motion to approve November checks totaling $5,490.15 was approved by the Board. Motion to approve December checks totaling $1,974.52 was approved by the Board. Approval is subject to receiving hard copy back up at the next Executive Board meeting in February.
V. President’s Report (Isabelle Cole)
Nominating committee. Isabelle has compiled a committee of five parents; all grade levels (K-5) are represented. Committee is comprised of: Jeanne Marzano, Soma Mitra, Lauren Barley, Pearl Chow, and Angela Cassini. Motion to approve proposed nominating committee was approved by the Board.
Room parent meeting. Room parents met on January 9th to discuss the problem of soliciting volunteers for the many positions that need to be filled. A number of ideas were discussed, including:
Provide room parents a class list prior to back-to-school night to enable them to look up the majority of classroom emails and send some communication (e.g., information regarding jobs that need to be filled) before the job openings are circulated on clipboards during classroom presentations.
Make sure that people (especially parents of kinders) fill out the contact information sheets at back-to-school night since this will serve as the only contact information until directories are available.
Have the teacher send out a flyer on the Friday before back-to-school night, listing jobs and explaining that both classroom and PTA positions need to be filled.
Coach room parents on their back-to-school night presentation. Coordinate the circulation of classroom and PTA clipboards, explaining the need for both.
Change harvest carnival to spring to spread volunteer requirement more evenly throughout the school year.
Create a room parent Yahoo! group (already done).
Explain at the Welcome New Families Night that volunteerism is an integral part of Duveneck culture and is expected.
Take teacher treats off the classroom sheets circulated at back-to-school night. Instead solicit help closer to the designated date(s).
Teacher treats. The issue of difficulty soliciting volunteers to fill all of the necessary teacher/aide treats slots was discussed again. A new format where each classroom is responsible for one treat day honoring both the teacher and classroom aide was discussed. The PTA Executive Board would then take responsibility for two additional days honoring resource staff, potentially getting a coffee cart to cover one or both of those days. In all, the new format would result in teacher treats on 26 days during the school year. The motion to approve the new format was approved by the Board. The new format can be reviewed and revisited next year.
VI. Principal’s Report (Kathleen Meagher)
Play structures. The new play structures are not yet in. The cement has been poured, but the rain has slowed their installation.
Incoming kinder Visits. January 31st is a district-wide kinder visitation day. Families of new kinders will be touring Duveneck. The event is mainly targeted at families trying to decide among different kindergarten options (e.g., Spanish immersion, Hoover, Ohlone). Principal Meagher feels that she currently has sufficient people to serve as tour guides.
VII. School Community (Jen Buenrostro and Sue Pelosi). Jen and Sue are still planning to head a Spruce Up Duveneck day this spring. Proposed projects include: 1) building and filling kinder and primary sandboxes; 2) acquiring and spreading new mulch; 3) cleaning up the area outside the Principal’s office; 4) deep cleaning picnic tables. The idea of combining the work day with some sort of food (e.g., bagels or pancakes) to increase participation was discussed. Potential assistance from Scout troops was also discussed, as was engaging the student leadership (5th graders) to help with promotion. Date is not set, but April 12th was tentatively discussed.
VIII. New Business. Kim Robins noted that Abbie Knopper, who is currently in charge of the May Fete Parade, has expressed concern that the cart used as the base of the float in recent years is broken and no longer functional. While Abby is still happy to oversee the parade preparations, she cannot build a new cart. Possibilities include an alternative parade format (e.g., no float but balloons), or enlisting the help of others to replace and house the float cart. Isabelle will put a call out in the Dispatch and on the Yahoo! group for parents who might be willing to help in this endeavor or would otherwise be willing to serve on the May Fete committee.
IX. Parliamentarian Report (Kathryn Weller).
A. Nominating Committee. Isabelle and Kathryn will meet with the newly-approved nominating committee for the first time on Thursday, January 17th. Kathryn distributed a list of next year’s PTA jobs to be filled by the nominating committee. The Board discussed high priority positions. Many key positions still need to be filled. People should talk with Isabelle, Kathryn, or a nominating committee member if they know of interested people. The Executive Board will be voted on at the Science Fair, and thus needs to be completed and posted to the school community 30 days prior to that event.
B. On-line student directory. The idea of an online directory was also discussed to make the directory available earlier in the school year and to enable people to update their own entries. Walter Hays has an online directory. Paper copies of the directory would be available to people without computers or who otherwise desire a paper copy.
X. Faculty Report (Lena Grodin).
A. Computers. New computers are currently being installed. Classrooms are very excited and thank the PTA and especially the technology committee.
B. Staff treats. The staff expressed appreciation for recent treats.
C. Damage/loitering. There have recently been some problems with older kids hanging around the school after hours. A classroom window was broken; there has been some graffiti; and there have been reports of kids on the roof. The police have been called several times. People noticing unusual activity are encouraged to call the police.
XI. Parent Education (Kim Robins).
A. Queen Bees. A presentation on girls and their relationships with peers will be held on January 31 at 7:00 in the Duveneck MP room.
B. Madeline Levine (author of the Price of Privilege). Will be speaking in April at Gunn. Duveneck is contributing $50 toward the event, which will be promoted as the date nears.
C. Carol Dweck (author of Mindset). Will be speaking regarding different intelligences and how they are developed on February 4th at 7pm at 25 Churchill.
XII. Social Report (Gretchen DeAndre and Julie Dyson). Planning is beginning for the spring social event, to be held in May or June when the weather is warmer. Alternatives to the Fiesta theme (which has been used in the last couple of years) were discussed, including a square dance or an ice cream social.
XIII. Site Council Report (Linda van Gelder)
A. Gate. Site council is purchasing a new gate to block driveway access to the rear of the school during school hours using the remaining site block money (previously allocated to a new kinder play structure, which was ultimately purchased by the district instead). The goal of the gate is to further control access and thus increase school security.
B. Survey. Cite council is currently drafting a parent survey. The survey will address many subjects including communication and volunteering. Site council is targeting February/March for the survey. It will be primarily on-line, but paper copies will be made available. The survey will be translated into Spanish. Classroom teachers are being consulted to determine what other language assistance might be needed.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:30 pm.
Next meeting is scheduled for Mon., February 11, 2008 in the Duveneck Library
Respectfully submitted,
Kristin Feitzinger, Secretary
