Executive Committee Meeting – October 9, 2009

Present: William Hack, MJ Call, John Rothmann, John Wong, Jim Thirtyacre, Jordan Hymowitz, Brad Kaplan, David Bass, Susan Burkhardt, Dave McIlhenny, Jim Fong, Stefan Adler, Tom Bechtold, Myla Goode, Kim Payne

William announced that we did not receive any personnel cuts.

-Early reading literacy specialist is covered in budget.

-KIP teacher is covered through a small increase in K and 1^st grade enrollment. Half of that position is funded thru FLAP grant. The position may lose an hour a day.

But the District is warning of possibly deep cuts next year.

John Rothmann suggested that we reserve a greater portion of fundraising for next year in anticipation of greater cuts next year.

William announced that there were non-personnel cuts, and will need support from the PTA. Additional funding for the arts $28K, additional $5K for office supplies, potentially a gift for extra hours by Ms. Kwon.

Susan Burkhardt will undertake getting FLAP grant money for KIP program to help support Ms. Kwon’s position.

John Rothmann suggested that it is particularly important for the PTA to express support for the teachers.

Conversation about Outdoor Ed raised by William:

-OE is biggest discretionary expenditure

-Revenues do not cover the expenditure for middle school

-Could require OE to be completely self-funded

-William wants to form a committee in Dec/Jan with teachers and some parents to consider how OE programs should be altered to reduce overall costs.

-Need to define criteria for scholarships, criteria for OE programs by grade.

-Nyla asked how much money was being given for scholarships, because it is easier to get grants for individual children. William will provide those numbers.

-2009/10 OE is committed-to already. To make cuts for 2010/11, would need to make decisions by February. Suggestion made that committee needs to be formed now in order to have time to make any consideration for change.

-Issue raised as to whether set aside money should be put into the endowment or held otherwise.

-Only two large expenditure areas that can be affected in the budget – elementary PE program and OE.

-Meeting next week will specifically focus on potential cuts. Although we “dodged a bullet” this time, we need to review budget and identify where we can cut and what we should cut. And if there are alternative funding sources, e.g., grants for individual families for OE, to help.

-Proposal will be to form a committee to identify potential cuts for 2010-11.

-Discussion of whether emergency meeting on 10/15 is necessary given the budget reprieve.

-Goal of November meeting will be to vote on formation of sub-committees to examine high discretionary spending items (PE, OE, etc).

-Jim, who called emergency meeting, withdrew request for meeting on Oct 15.

-Jordan appealed to Board to call families in their respective classrooms who have not contributed. And also to promote the Texas Hold ‘Em event as broadly as possible.

Move to adjourn meeting Nancy Sur, second by Brad Kaplan. Adjourned