June 2020 PTA Meeting Minutes

10/13/2020 4:25 pm

Patrick Lyndon K-8 Pilot School PTA

Meeting Minutes

Via Zoom

June 3, 2020

1. Welcome, Meeting Overview

• Introductions of the PTA Board and Mrs. Tunney

1. To-Do List for School Year 2020/21

• Samantha asked participants to use the chat feature to share ideas for the next year. What can the PTA do?
  • Get more parents involved. How can we accomplish that if we are virtual in the fall?  It will require creativity.
  • Can the PTA continue to offer a virtual option to participate in meetings even if the students return to in-person learning?
  • Increase upper school parent participation.

• Meeting Minutes
• Motion to approve the March 2020 meeting minutes. Motion passed.
• Motion to approve the May 2020 meeting minutes. Motion passed.

1. Accomplishments

• Teacher appreciation week – the PTA shared personal messages on social media, purchased gift cards and treated teachers to Recreo.
• Budget meeting – the budget meeting was held to draft the 2020/21 budget.
• Purchased IXL Software for the SAR classes. Tunney thanked the PTA and provided an update on how helpful the program has been during remote learning.

1. Updates

• School Site Council
  • The Lyndon made an offer to a K-2 paraprofessional and a SAR teacher
  • Ward interviewed candidates to fill instrumental and language teacher openings.
  • Last day of school will be June 22, 2020.

• City Wide Parent Council (Steve Lewis)
  • The Superintendent participated in the last CPC meeting and provided the following updates:
    • high school redesign plan: it will take all of next year and will be implemented in 21/22. It coincides with closing stand-alone middle schools;
    • All fifth graders are eligible for the exam school initiative;
    • Summer learning letter will be issued soon;
    • In response to questions about returning to school in the fall, she indicated that there are a lot of boxes to check before students can return to the buildings;
    • She would like to host more regional meetings throughout the district;
    • Fundraising: she views the ban on individual school fundraising as a positive thing and intends to keep it in place. She acknowledged that she cannot control independent 501(c)(3) organizations.

• Friends of the Lyndon:
  • Discussed the status of Dreambox and its increased use as part of the math curriculum. If it is being widely used and relied upon, can we request that the district pick up the cost?
  • All funding requests have been put on hold until we are back in the building and the items can be used.

• Room Parents
  • Teacher gifts: the consensus is that is not an appropriate time to request money/donations for teacher gifts. We do not want to put parents in an uncomfortable position give how difficult this time period is.

• Wellness
  • Discussed the possibility of a bicycle safety program to be held during gym class or regular class time.

1. Treasurer’s Report (Fran Guardabascio)

• Discussed full-year forecast
• Vote on 20/21 budget
  • Motion to approve the 2020/21 budget – motion passed.

• Elections
• Nominees for 2020/21 PTA Board:
  • President: Samantha Lewis
  • Vice President: Lee Rushton
  • Treasurer: Ed Greenaway
  • Secretary: open
  • Nominations were made; motion to approve the nominations; motion passed.

• Nomination for CPC
  • Steve Lewis
  • Nomination made; motion to approve nomination; motion passed.

• Thank you Volunteers

• Leadership needs next year:
  • Bylaw committee
  • Welcome Back Event
  • Book Fair
  • Square1 Art
  • Spell check
  • Kindness week
  • Teacher appreciation week

• Spirit Week: a conversation was held regarding whether the lower school can be included in the celebration of spirit week.

Motion to adjourn.  Motion passed.