Midland PTO Meeting Minutes

Monday August 24, 2009

Elementary School Cafeteria

Officer Attendance: Staci Blew, Sonia Morrison, Lisa Stewart, Tiona Kimble, Nicole Sivertsen, Lori Blackburn, Stacy Watkins and Terri Lambecht.

Principal Attendance: Julie Albers (Elementary) and Peg Frey (Middle School)

General Assembly: Marge Watkins, Wylee Bickerman, Amanda Bennett, Lisa Weber, Barbie Glaser, Angie Riddell, Krystal Toman, Rolf Sivertsen, Molly Lequia, Sue Moreland, Summer Traver, Margie Deffenbaugh, Rich Toll, Jennifer Smith, Missy Bade, Jennifer Lindstrom, Carrie Schupp, Rhonda Urazoff,

Market Day Representatives: Trish Anderson and Cindy Shipley

Meeting called to order at 6:30p.m. by Lisa Stewart with general introductions around the room.

Secretary’s Report: Copies of the meeting minutes from the last PTO Officer summer meeting was available for review. (See Attached)

Treasurer’s Report: Copies of the budget were available, note some small revisions from the April meeting. (See Attached)

P.R.I.D.E.-Rolf Sivertsen, Superintendant Midland School District #7

• Rolf Sivertsen stood up in front of the group to promote the P.R.I.D.E. movement or “Premiere Resources Involving Development and Engagement.” This is a strategic plan developed by the district with the help of a consultant from Western Illinois University, Dr. Mccall.
• General Meeting to get movemement out in the community  will be held Friday August 28, 5:30 at the high school. Food will be provided.  All parents and community leaders are invited to attend.
• Mr. Sivertsen encouraged all parents to come in order to get the movement up and running. He also wanted to emphasize the importance of community involvement in this movement.

MARKET DAY – Trish Anderson and Cindy Shipley, Market Day Reps for Midland

• The reps welcomed Midland back to the program.  Trish Anderson will be our monthly rep.
• The duo handed out flyers on possible pizza fundraiser through Market Day and gave estimates of what the school could make off of an average fundraiser.
• Staci Blew discussed there were other fundraiser on the floor currently, but it may be considered as an option.
• Staci Blew asked for volunteers for the first Market Day pick up on Sept. 14^th, 4:15  in the elementary school cafeteria.  Margie Deffenbaugh, Boy Scout Leader and Middle School Liasion, asked Staci to contact her for possible volunteers.

PRINICIPAL’S REPORT – Julie Albers, Peg Frey

• Peg Frey thanked the PTO for the end of the year gift they gave her in April. She commented there were lots of new families in the middle school and asked for ways to get them involved.
• Peg asked that the PTO keep her informed for middle school newsletter of all upcoming events.
• Mrs. Frey is working on a fund for a new piano for the middle school. Currently at approximately $1800 after efforts to fundraise.  The school is still in need of a couple thousand more and asked the PTO if this could possibly be donated. Sonia/Lisa encouraged Mrs. Frey to fill out a request form and it will be brought back to the committee.
• Middle School Open House is August 25.
• Julie Albers reported an enrollment boom. School Board have given her permission to hire 3 part time aides. They also have 2 new teachers at the elementary school, 1 in Kindergarten and 1 Special Education Teacher.
• Julie wished to thank all of the organizations, churches, families that donated school supplies for underprivileged children. They were able to supply between 30-35 kids with school supplies and even have some extra.
• Ms. Albers wanted to remind parents that she is monitoring the temperatures in the classrooms. Children are encouraged to bring in water bottles to help keep them cool.  So far, not unbearable per Ms. Albers.
• Elementary school pictures will be Wednesday, October 1st.
• In September, Ms. Albers will be given a presentation about the conference that she attended over the summer about Positive Behavior Intervention and Support.
• Ms. Albers stated that she may have to ask the PTO to fund one of the preschool field trips, this has never been requested before but may have to be due to lack of state funding/influx of students. She will let the PTO know at a later date.
• Tiona Kimble asked if the elementary school could use air conditioning units that she would like to personally donate. Ms. Albers is going to check into it and get back to her.

TEACHER GIFTS-Sonia Morrison

• Sonia presented her suggestion to the PTO of purchasing digital cameras for each grade level for the teacher start of the year gifts. Historically they have been given a gift card.
• The PTO gift to teachers would consist of a digital camera for each grade level with a memory card for each teacher.  Since this did not address aides, much discussion was held on how to fairly gift.
• A motion was made (1.Krystal Toman 2. Marge Watkins) for the PTO to purchase a digital camera for each grade level and also purchase individual memory cards for each teacher. The motion passed.
• A motion was made (1. Molly Lequia 2. Jennifer Lindstrom) for the PTO to purchase a Fine Arts camera (1 for each school) and a Fine Arts memory card (1 for each teacher).  The motion passed.
• Mrs. Frey requested one for herself.

BUDGET-Sonia Morrison

• Sonia presented the budget and stated it was basically the same budget as was presented in April except for the increase in office supplies. There was an increase in copies that were being sent out by the PTO and it was felt that we need to purchase more copy paper to have at the school.
• A motion was made (1. Missy Bade 2. Jennifer Smith) to approve the budget with the increase as noted.  The motion passed.

CARNIVAL-Lisa Stewart

• Lisa presented to the group that the PTO board members would like to divide the responsibilities of putting on the carnival amongst their group. It would be a standing agenda item to be reported at each meeting.
• A motion was made (1. Molly Lequia 2. Sue Moreland) to have the officers in charge of the carnival for the second year in a row. The motion was passed.
• The carnival is tentatively scheduled for Saturday February 6, 2010.

IRS 501 3C-Sonia Morrison

• Sonia let the PTO members know that after some investigating over the summer, she found out the Midland PTO never filed the appropriate paperwork to be a recognized organization with the IRS.  The benefits of doing so include: we can offer write offs to those who donate to our organization, be sales tax exempt, and would be able to apply for grants.
• Sonia gave the option to apply for status and become a corporation. Much discussion was held on the benefits of doing so.
• A motion was made (1. Summer Traver 2. Molly Lequia) to move forward in filing the paperwork to become a non profit, then a corporation.
• The motion was passed.
• Sonia will head this task and keep the committee abreast of all developments.

PTO MEETING CHILDCARE – Tiona Kimble/Nicole Sivertsen

• Tiona offered the PTO members a possible option for childcare during regularly scheduled meetings and possibly for Market Day pickups. Her sister-in-law is the Home Economics instructor at the high school and is willing to work with the PTO to allow her students to babysit during the afore mentioned time periods in return for community service hours or classroom points/incentives.
• Much discussion was held regarding what type of incentives, monetary or service hours and also what type of guidelines would need to be established (e.g. sign in sheets, parameters within the gym, etc.)
• A motion was made (1.Krystal Toman 2. Wylee Bickerman) to offer this to the students as community service with never less than 2 students at a time.
• The motion was passed.
• Tiona and Nicole will come up with guidelines.

HEADROOM PARENTS-Staci Blew

• Staci noted that headroom parents were still needed for 3^rd grade classrooms Ricci and Smith.
• Jennifer Lindstrom volunteered for Mrs. Smith’s classroom.
• Still no headroom parent for Mr. Ricci.

NEW BUSINESS

• A committee chairperson list was passed around. Please contact Lisa Stewart if you are interested in becoming involved with any of the committees.

(See Attached)

• Jennifer Lindstrom shared a newspaper article that she read over the summer regarding recycling electronics.  Committee showed much interest in bringing such a program to the schools.
• Lisa emphasized the current calendar of fundraising looks like:

SCRIP                                     October

Letter Writing Campaign        October

Market Day                             Ongoing through the year

Carnival                                   February

Box Tops                                 Ongoing through the year

Take Charge of Education      Ongoing through the year

• Sue Moreland reminded the PTO that there are plenty of people in the community that would like to get involved who may not have any children in the district. Let’s not forget these people during our fundraisers.
• Marge Deffenbaugh wanted to know if we are doing box tops. Jennifer Lindstrom clarified that she will be in charge and will contact Marge regarding her class helping out with the box top counts.
• Barbie Glaser volunteered to do soup labels.

Meeting adjourned around 8:15 p.m.