Graham Hill PTA
2011-2012 PTA Board Meeting
Meeting Held: September 1328, 2011 – 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Location: Graham Hill Elementary School
The meeting was called to order by Christine King at 6:37 pm.
Attendees:
Chris Morningstar gro.sloohcselttaes|ratsgninromcf#gro.sloohcselttaes|ratsgninromcf GHES Principal
Julie Grove moc.liamtoh|evorg_jj#moc.liamtoh|evorg_jj Co-President
Christine King ten.tsacmoc|gnik.m.enitsirhc#ten.tsacmoc|gnik.m.enitsirhc Co-President
Lisa Wetzel ten.tsacmoc|leztewal#ten.tsacmoc|leztewal Secretary
Colin McCartney moc.ylimafyentraccm|niloc#moc.ylimafyentraccm|niloc Co-Vice President
Beth Jacoby moc.oohay|ybocajhteb#moc.oohay|ybocajhteb Co-Vice President
Geoff Dillard moc.liamg|atphgdg#moc.liamg|atphgdg Treasurer
Ty Griffin moc.oohay|137kynyT#moc.oohay|137kynyT Volunteer Coordinator
Shelly Hurley gro.sloohcselttaes|yelruhhs#gro.sloohcselttaes|yelruhhs GHES Teacher Rep
Old Business
1) Approval of June Board Meeting Notes (6/7/2011)-Move to approve minutes from Geoff Dillard, seconded by Ty Griffin
2) Approval of Board Retreat Notes (8/28/2011)-Move to approve minutes from Geoff Dillard, seconded by Ty Griffin
1) Approved unanimously
2) Approved unanimously
New Business
1 Establish agenda for general meeting (generally the largest meeting of the year):
1) Thank you to GH parent/businesses that supported the auction last year during presentation. We should make an effort to disseminate information about success of the Auction. Auction team could make a request for information about which items are most profitable.
2) Coordinate childcare and dinner: Joseph Kito is available and will bring a friend. Dinner: pizza provided by PTA, parents to bring salad or dessert.
3) Agenda
a) Introductions-board, staff, meet each other (have everyone introduce self to group, either whole group or within tables, depending on attendance)
b) Thank you to GH Community for Auction's success!
c) Big Ideas from people-post-it/exit tickets
d) PTA Powerpoint/slide show to get people excited for volunteering
e) Ty presents volunteer needs (pointing out table with sign-up sheets), which may include:
i) Request for help with the Green Team (Tues, Weds)
ii) Safeway e-scrip special promotion
iii) Fall Fest
iv) Auction Team
v) Playground Improvement
f) School Report (aka Principal’s report)
1) Item discussed.
2) Action item: buy pizza.
3) Action item: Make agenda for general meeting.
2 Confirm Committees and Chairs –we need to clearly define each position and then seek volunteers to fill positions. We are in favor of individual volunteers instead of chairpersons.
1) Grounds:
a) Interior: Rachael Harrison-confirmed
b) Exterior: Cambria Cox -confirmed but needs help. She will do one big clean-up a year, along with weekly weeding hour. We discussed breaking this into 3 parts: garden chair, green team chair (Shelly expressed need for more parent volunteers, will put out a plea in the General Meeting), and playground improvement chair. Playground funds still need to be raised, but there is a pot of money in the fund. Priorities need to be decided upon.
2) Arts-Rachel Risely (daughter in Ms.Nur’s class). Hallway displays, state art contest. This year, the art teacher will be involved. Maybe we can coordinate with Rachel Harrison.
3) Hospitality (grade level socials)
4) Fundraising Co-chairs –do we need a chair if individuals are in charge of individual fundraising efforts. Ana will do fall catalog, Scott & Joella will do Chinook books. PCC (Diane), Safeway (Beth), Annual Fund (PTA Board).
5) Auction Chair (procurement chair Nykeesha, event planning chair Anna McCartney)
6) Legislative-Dan Eder
7) Communications-Megan Haile no longer able. Flier copying, PTA piece of Weds newsletter, emails to Yahoo group.
Action item: Need to define needs for Ty to make a plea at the general meeting
1)
a) Confirmed Rachel Harrison
b) Grounds Facility (Exterior) Chair broken into 3 jobs as noted. Confirmed Cambria Cox as garden chair.
2) Action item: need to check with Rachel Risley and new art teacher about involvement/interest level.
3) No discussion.
4) Action: decided that we don't need a chair, just indiv. volunteers for each fundraiser.
5) No discussion.
6) Dan Eder confirmed as Legislative Chair
7) Ask for volunteers for each job, no chair.
3 Upcoming Events:
1) Curriculum Night presence: magician and payment, what will our presence look like? PTA Table set up. Have Chris introduce PTA Pres and put in a plug for General Meeting. Membership Forms, Volunteer forms, PCC scripts, Safeway e-scrip.
2) Prepare for Fall Fest – Melissa Small
a) Can we alter this event as a dessert event, not dinner, since we are hosting a party, then use the savings and cafeteria space for funding games. Can we have pre-made pizza? The expectation is for dinner and attracts a lot of families. Are we having a book fair? Could we use other space for spooky house (playcourt or lower hallway). Can we reduce table space to make room for games? Use some money for games/prizes. Prefer most of the money go toward games
b) PTA pays for cafeteria staff (4 hours) and need to request permit from District.
3) Discuss October’s IWALK planning on 10/5/11-walking map, encourage walking school buses, display photo voice pictures in the school for the month of October (library hallway). There will be a Wednesday morning meeting to kick things off and 1) Action item: set up PTA table at Curr Night. A check was written to pay magician (1st half).
2)
a) Have dinner as usual but try to come up with creative use of space (fewer tables, lower hallway). Allocate some extra money for games/prizes-have them propose budget.
b) Action item: request permit from District (Melissa?) and pay cafeteria staff
3) Item discussed.
4 Fundraising:
1) Fall catalogue
2) Chinook books
3) PCC/Safeway-receipt collection for special promotion (get greater percent during promotion period on certain products). Last spring we collected receipts and raised $1000. We have 3 dates to collect receipts, need volunteers (from General Meeting) 2 people at a time for 4 hours (1 hour each). Sunday 9/25 12-4, Sat Oct 1 12-4, Sunday 10/9 12-4
We are averaging $175 per month for the program.
4) PTA membership drive
5) Annual ask/donor’s circle-yes
1) Ana is in charge, we don't know details
2) Scott Ringold and Joella are in charge
3) Action item: get volunteers to help on days listed. Add another store/day.
4) Membership drive underway
5) Go ahead with annual letter/ donor's circle
5 Recruiting new parent volunteers No discussion
6 Budget review and priority setting
1) Positive discipline monies for staff
2) Service/patrol party monies-should we fund a combined student service party instead of separate ones for Green Team, Safety Patrol, Choir.
3) Geoff –Catalog sales aren’t in budget, walk in the park is, but we aren’t sure it is happening; they would off-set each other.
4) Explorations in Math-what is the money to be used for? There were problems last year, staff not interested in continuing. We could put the money toward a math night.
Items discussed
7 Follow up action from August meeting
1) WA PTA membership and invoice-pay $900-1500 per year, what do we get out of it. Insurance would be affected (go up a little, say $70 per year). We would be a PTO, not PTA and part of the larger organization. We have until Dec 1st to renew insurance policy. We would need to decide as a board and then take it to the general meeting. We would miss out on some trainings and resources, etc. Do some more research, give a recommendation and then put it on the agenda in the November general meeting.
2) Region 6 meeting attendance 1) Action item: Research and discuss at next board meeting. Decide whether to present a recommended change at Nov. general meeting.
2) No discussion, only grumbling.
8 Clarify work distribution for the year No discussion
9 Principal’s report
Enrollment-at 422 students, students still being added (McCleary).
Staffing-New teachers ( 2nd and 5th grades), one new Spec Ed IA, two new tutors from Bilingual Dept; one for Nepalese students, one for Burmese (centrally funded)
Curriculum Night-Format similar to last year. Mike the Magician hired to entertain the kids.
Building Leadership Team-Need one or two parents for BLT. Meets once a month before school. Go through volunteer coordinator/Yahoo group. Helps with budgeting and professional development.
FEAT (Family Engagement Action Team)-Need parent and teacher/staff involvement to make this effective. Especially important for Title I schools.
Action item: recruit 1 or 2 parents for BLT
Action item: recruit parents and staff for FEAT
10 Open discussion and comments
Lisa Wetzel will miss the general meeting 9/27, so Colin McCartney volunteered to take minutes.
Meeting adjourned at 8:17 pm by Christine King.
Minutes taken by Lisa Wetzel.
Copies to:
Attendees
File
These meeting minutes represent the writer’s interpretation of the events, discussions, comments, and commitments made by the attendees. Please notify the Graham Hill Elementary School PTA Board in writing of any discrepancies within 3 days of receipt or these shall stand as correct for the record.
