March 2020 PTA Meeting Minutes

6/3/2020 5:05 pm

Patrick Lyndon K-8 Pilot School PTA

Meeting Minutes - March 4, 2020

1. Welcome, Introductions, Meeting Overview:

• Samantha introduced the PTA Board and Management Team
• Reviewed the meeting agenda

1. Committee Overview:

• Spell Check: Heather Sullivan has been the committee chair for several years and would like to hand it off to someone else
• Book Fair: the committee chair position needs to be filled for 20/21
• Finance Committee: the committee chair position needs to be filled for 20/21
• Teacher Appreciation: the committee chair position needs to be filled for 20/21

• Leadership AMA:
• Reviewed quotes about leadership

1. Community Activity:

• Asked the group “What can the PTA Board answer about Leadership?”
  • What is something surprisingly fun that you found while running/leading your thing?
  • How much time and when (time of year, time of day) does each volunteer position require?
  • What role/projects are good for someone that can’t be at the school during school hours?
  • What does the finance committee entail (do I need a degree in finance)?
  • How can a leader motivate “new people” to step up and help?
  • Was the Stop & Shop savings ever set up?
  • What has been easier than you expected?
  • How many hours a week would you have to work to be on the Board?

1. Minutes:

• The group reviewed the February meeting minutes. Motion made to approve the minutes.  Motion passed. 

1. Accomplishments:

• Kindness Week:
  • Valentine’s for Veterans
  • Kind Bars for teachers
  • Kindness stickers

• Lyndon Night @ the Y:
  • Was not well-attended
  • Relationship with the Y depends on us being excited about events and attendings.
  • We need to try to draw a bigger crowd for next time.

• Election Day Bake Sale:
  • Held on March 3, 2020. Well-attended by voters.  We do not have the final figures yet.

• School Wide Spelling Bee:
  • Held on February 12, 2020. Great event attended by many students.
  • Winners were: Keegan Gallagher (1^st Place), Morgan Barbuto (2^nd Place), Evan Nolan (3^rd Place).
  • The fundraiser raised 19% more than last year.

• Wish List
• Let’s get ideas on the list and investigate whether they are possible.
• New Ideas:
  • Safer internet presentation
  • New lights in the gym
• Inactive Ideas:
  • We ran out of time to hold an assembly for Black History Month, but it remains on the list to investigate
• Outdoor Classroom:
  • It has been cleaned up. Waiting to see what grows.  A usage survey will be circulated soon.
• Food Drive:
  • Parent suggested doing a food drive to donate to a food bank in our neighborhood.
  • A discussion has been held regarding logistics of the food drive and getting food from the school to the food bank.
• Terra Cycling
  • Turn recycling into cash. This might be something for the school to pursue.

• Membership Historical Comparison

• 2019/20: 87 families and 9 faculty joined
• 2018/19: 61 families and 11 faculty joined
• 2017/18: 93 families and 18 faculty joined
• 2016/17: 86 families and 16 faculty joined

1. Updates:

• SSC:
  • Hired a long-term substitute for Mrs. Carey
  • Budget for the 2020/21 student-based budget
  • Teachers reported developing faculty senate to meet and monthly and discuss issues
  • Girls on the Run starting – two teams – 4^th and 5^th, 6^th – 8^th
  • No new information on the exam school entrance exam for 2020/21 year
  • Lyndon report card: scored low on meeting needs of African American students.
  • K1 Welcome is on 5/28
  • Budget – SSC approved a salary increase for the Management Team
  • 4 new positions discussed
    • K2 para-professional
    • Bowes will be a full-time gym teacher
    • 60 % foreign language teacher
    • 50% SAR teacher
  • CPC:
    • Office of Equity gave a presentation:
      • 24/7 respect. Addresses student bias behavior and other issues.  Parents can look at videos on BPS website.  Addressed in 6^th grade class from 3/9 to 3/13
      • Succeed Boston: counseling for bullying. Hotline to report incidents of bullying
    • Superintendent opinion is that there should be baseline funding for every school. If the school doesn’t meet the goal, then BPS will.
    • Opinion by some is that the baseline is not high enough. Non-profit group is asking for folks to sign on to pledge to raise the baseline.
    • Elections will be held at the March CPC meeting
  • FOTL:
    • Received four teacher requests
    • Dreambox will also be provided for another two years
  • Room Parents: No update
  • Wellness Committee: No update
  • Caring Committee:
    • No new needs.

1. Treasurer’s Report:

• Fran provided update financials
• Teacher raised an issue about funding for the SAR teacher budget, they likely need more.
• Fran suggested establishing a finance committee to develop a treasurer in training.

1. Upcoming Events

• Parents Night Out: 3/11 from 6:30-9:30 at Distraction Brewing Co. Jimmies Café will offer snacks for sale
• Corrib Give Back – March TBD.
• Citywide Spelling Bee – March 21^st
• PTA Meeting – April 1^st
• Lyndon Red Sox Game – April 5^th
• April bowling event – Week of April 20^th
• Spring Book Fair – April 28^th – 30^th
• PNO Trivia – May 2^nd
• Teacher Appreciation Week - May 4^th
• Walk to School Day – May 6^th

Motion to adjourn. Motion passed.