Central Elementary School PTO
September 15, 2010 Meeting Minutes
In Attendance: Bruce Downer, Jeannie Cloues, Anita Carlson-Allen; Jean Illingworth, Wendy Harty, Misty Haskell, Karen Harris, Sonia Comstock, Myriah Clark, Jen Cravinho, Hope Brissette
Introductions were made; quickly as there were no new members in attendance.
Financial report was discussed, however, due to summer fundraisers, etc; an official financial report was not handed out but will be distributed at the October 14th meeting. One item discussed and brought to the PTO was information regarding the bank statement stating that we incurred a fee due to balance being over $10,000. Sonia will look into this fee and figure out how to either have it removed or close and move account to another financial institution.
A motion was brought to the table to allot $3,000 to all school enrichment funds and $2,000 for grade level enrichment funds. Jeanne Cloues motioned and Anita seconded. Motion passed.
Upcoming events:
September 24, 2010 - Make your own Sundae night from 6-7 in the gymnasium. Misty asked for volunteers to
bring items. Over and above the items that Sandi Roll and Misty have already signed up for here’s the list:
o Sprinkles(2 lg containers) – Karen Harris
o Chocolate chips(2bags) – Anita Carlson-Allen
o M&M’s(2 lg bags/plain) - Jen Cravinho
o Whipped Cream(6 cans)-Wendy Harty
o Cherries(3 jars) – Jeannie Cloues
o 150 disposable bowls – Sonia Comstock
o Plastic Spoons – Hope Brissette
October 19th – CES Open House
o Anita & Misty will work on coordinating food
o Misty will set up display board we currently have
o Jen C. will provide a few updated photos for the board
October 22nd – Roller Skating – No school this day
o Discussion ensued about possibly inviting MS students, it was determined that mixing 7/8th graders with the youngers might provide some discomfort as well as it may go against our policy that all students need to have a chaperone present. Decision was that older siblings may attend with younger.
o Misty will contact Nick at Famous to purchase 4 cheese and 4 pepperoni pizzas.
o Misty will post a signup sheet in the Teacher lounge for volunteers and food donations.
o She will also be making phone contact to parents who have signed up to donate food/help for this event. At next PTO meeting we will see where we are at and go from there.
Requests:
? Misty passed around a grant email request from Nancy Schaffer at the state; she will give to Peter Lawry as it pertains to physical activity funds.
? Bruce requested that $500.00 from the all school enrichment funds be put aside for purchase of books. Misty made the motion and Sonia second. All voted in favor.
? Jeanne Cloues requested funds from the all school enrichment to purchase tickets to the African Children’s Choir at the Colonial Theater at 9.00/person. Wendy Harty suggested that PTO could pay $6. /person with parents paying $3/student. Misty suggested that the sign-up sheet could ask parents willing to pay scholarship another child to send in the extra money. Teachers will pay for own tickets and PTO will pay for Paraprofessionals. It was noted that the PTO will pay for any students that cannot pay for themselves.
o Motion made by Misty to pay for Paraprofessionals in Full and $6/per student to go to the African Children’s Choir at the Colonial; Jeanne Cloues second, All were in favor. Jeanne C will put together flier to go home with students.
? Anita thanked parents/staff for the healthy snack program
? Anita asked for a volunteer for the food service committee they are looking for one parent from each district. Chris Hodsden is chairing the committee. Misty, Sonia and Jen C stated they would be interested in joining the committee if the times would work into their schedule. Anita will check with Chris to find out times and report back.
Other Items -
? Misty asked the question on how much time to the students have to eat lunch. Average of 10-15 minutes depending on if they have home lunch or school lunch and when their table is dismissed. Bruce is looking into ways to make more time; i.e. dismissal of tables, change in routine as there is not time in the daily schedule.
? Jeannie I – noted that maybe the school could get a new photographer for next year and noted that Westminster has a wonderful photographer and the pictures are taken outside; much better quality. Jen will forward information to Bruce and Cindy on New England photography.
? Jeannie I also brought up dismissal concerns with how chaotic it is in the afternoon. Parents also expressed their concerns and discussion opened up and parents/teachers offered suggestions:
o Possibly splitting grades and having some exit to the back playground and front.
o Have Para/staff outside to check off students as they go with ride as they do in SRES
o Have town set specific parking lines for pick up of students, currently there are not parking spots marked on the playground side of the street.
o Have older sibling walk to meet younger sibling at class and dismiss from there.
? Anita brought up concerns with the playground being over grown and dangerous and asked who’s responsible for clean up. Bruce believes it is the schools however; it is also a public playground. Misty is going to contact Mike Hindes and find out more on this and report back her finding.
? Bruce brought up for discussion the time of the All School meeting being moved to afternoons?
o Parents might have a more difficult time scheduling this as AM meetings could be attending on way to work.
o If enough notice given parents might be able to schedule time off.
? Jen Cravinho bought up the 21st Century Grant and how do we begin the process of offering an afterschool program that is needed at the CES. Kim Wilkinson inquired and has offered to help get the process rolling with being in contact with Orianna Beas(sp?). Bruce will contact Orianna and report back.
? Bruce announced that the school received a grant to place smart boards in some of the classrooms. Thank you to staff who wrote the grant and made it happen.
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