May 21, 2009

PTA Meeting

Attending:

Jim Thirtyacre, Brad Kaplan, MJ Call, David McIlhenny, Meserve Platt, Robyn Lipsky, John Olden, Nancy Sur, Gary Goldsbourough, John Rothmann

Absent:

John Wong

William Hack: Administrative representative

Meeting called to order at 6:40pm

Karen Hadley spoke, to thank the PTA and CL community for their support.

Minutes from March read by Nancy Sur, Meserve Platt moved to approve, Claire Bernstein seconded, approved unanimously.

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – William Hack

• Many events still to go this year: Carol Munch event May 28, celebration for retirement of Ms. Kathy, May Dance, several Outdoor Eds, 5^th grade promotion, 8^th grade graduation, two Open Houses

• Both buildings will be in use all summer

• Several teachers attended workshops for integrating technology into curriculum

• Thanked Frank Kanios (CLASP) for helping to finance the new furniture in Madison Library and thanked Eric Richman for helping get new table legs

• Our classes are full for next year. Grade 4-8 – target 1-33 kids per class – may be over. K-3 can go to 22.

  • 7^th grade is the only over-enrolled grade – 2 students over in one class, 3 students in another. Total of 71 in grade 7 as of now. Do not have a projection for fall.

  • 4/5 KIP class over-enrolled by 5. Full time extra KIP teacher position funded.

  • Half time early literacy specialist at Madison funded.

• Balanced scorecard done. Thanked community for input.

• For next year – focuses are everyday math, homework differentiation, articulating homework policy to parents, bringing GATE program to more compliance

• Balanced scorecard calls for more newsletters to parents about curriculum, study areas, to help address achievement gap.

• School budget is tight – cost of benefits went up for next year. Handout showed current expenditures and projected for next year.

• Budget requests for PTA

  • Asked for K-8 Artist-in-Residence program to be continued. To maintain current level, would need $30K to be safe.

  • Elementary teachers at Scott would like a garden coordinator @ $10K. Look at Green Schoolyard as part of science curriculum

  • Elementary PE, Outdoor Ed, Tech coordinator

  • Teachers would like to have SmartBoards and accompanying projectors, cameras

  • Middle school science lab

• Question to clarify teacher assignments and changes.

  • 7^th grade class (09-10) is 6 students smaller than when half time teacher assigned to that class

  • KIP, on the other hand, is both over-enrolled, and is a combined grade level. 38 KIP students, 1 teacher, plus half time teacher, plus staff person to support KIP program

• Question to clarify what is meant by bringing GATE program into compliance?

  • Outreach effort for under-represented populations

  • Flexible grouping strategies on a regular basis

  • Parent information nights

  • Is there a coordinator for next year?

  • Questioned if there was a coordinator for this year – Mr. Hack said yes, but that person only did the screening process

  • Mr. Hack said that the school would work harder next year to make it better.

PARENT SURVEY

• Nancy Sur presented results of Parent Survey

TREASURER’S REPORT –Dave McIlhenny

• $254K total income to date

• $170 total expenses to date

• Net ordinary income $84K

• $198K cash in the bank

• Presented proposed budget based on same net income as 2008-9

• Robyn Lipsky asked for a moment of appreciation for Dave McIlhenny’s contributions as Treasurer.

BUDGET DISCUSSION

• John Rothmann noted the potential for extensive cuts to the overall school budget, possibly as much as 20%.

• William Hack expressed that felt the proposed budget reflected the priorities of the school and staff and parent community.

• Comment from MJ Call that Outdoor Ed scholarship requests are likely to increase next year.

• David Bass and Jordan Hymowitz stated their goal of raising $100K in addition to current proposal.

• Andrea Gormley commented that any discussion of Outdoor Ed cuts needed to include younger grade teachers as well. Her feeling is that OE at lower grades is as valuable as the middle school trips.

• Robyn Lipsky raised the issue of whether we would be able to raise the same income next year as 2008-9.

  • David Bass noted that we’ve done better than projected over the past two years, and that based on the data, we should do better next year.

  • With a rainy day fund, we can be as much as 15% off income target and still be ok.

• Dave M pointed out that teacher needs should influence budget allocations more than parent decisions.

• Susan Burkhardt noted that many teachers have expressed a need for more technology training. Ms. Carillo pointed out that the District is providing training, and that it likely does not need to come from the PTA (Mr. Hack agreed).

• Bolivar noted that the $10K cut in the proposed budget for Green Schoolyard would severely cut the coordinator’s ability to support the teachers in implementing GSY.

• David Bass reviewed some plans for changing the structure of PTA membership funds next year, possibly changing the minimum level, raising the top level, etc.

• Vic shared requests for SmartBoards and LCD projectors at a total of $11,260 – some of which is slated to come from District (if funds are available)

• John Rothmann moved to approve the budget as submitted, with the understanding that it is open to reconsideration as the economy dictates.

• Gary Goldsborough noted that the GSY cut should be one of the principal things considered for restitution.

• Jordan Hymowitz proposed saving half of the total surplus in a rainy day fund, and would like to put $3-5K to CLAA.

• Motion amended to revisit the surplus and budget and how surplus is allocated in September. John Rothmann agreed to amendment.

• Dave McIlhenny suggested that the Administration and Science department prioritize how to spend the science lab/GSY money, similar to the Tech plan.

• Michael Mazzaferro noted that we make the bulk of our income in the 2^nd half of the year, and we won’t have any idea how much our total income will be, so encouraged the PTA not to add any new line items (i.e., science upgrades).

• Nancy Sur noted that the GSY cut might affect the GSY program’s ability to hire a coordinator – so they need to know tonight whether they can commit to the coordinator.

• Mr. Hack agreed that

• Jordan moved that we bring the GSY back to $10K, seconded.

• Final motion is to approve the budget as submitted, with the understanding that it will be revisited in September and throughout the year, as the economy dictates. This will include a re-examination of the surplus and how it should be allocated. The intention will be to fund the position for the GSY. Seconded by Meserve Platt. Motion passed.

ELECTIONS

• Jim noted that the election process was not necessarily as we would prefer it to be done

• At the first meeting next year, we will have actual Board officer elections. Jim asked that anyone who would like to run for any of the Board officer spots to speak up now. No one volunteered.

• Jim Thirtyacre will be President and John Wong will be First VP and Meserve Platt will be 2^nd VP. Nancy Sur will be Secretary, and David Bass will be Treasurer. Brad Kaplan will be Parliamentarian.

John Rothmann called to adjourn the meeting at 9:25 pm

Nancy Sur seconded. Meeting adjourned at 9:25 pm.