April 2021 PTA Meeting Minutes

4/7/2021 6:06 pm

Board Meeting

Wednesday, April 14, 2021 – 6:30 EDT

Present:  Sam Lewis (President), Lee Rushton (Vice-President), Ed Greenaway (Treasurer), Katie Hazelton (Secretary), Andre Ward (Upper School Director), Karen McLaughlin (SAR Teacher Representative), Amy Browne (Teacher Representative)

Other attendees: Julie Ma, Joy Mello, Steve Lewis, Jen Carey, Vickie Spiess, Lora Estey, Irene Daly, Kelly Kennedy, Sue Kemalian, Cara Tuttle.

Agenda

Welcome, Meeting Overview, Introductions

• Board and directors introduced themselves.
• Encouragement to join PTA if not already a member. This year, membership dues ($12/family) have a particularly big impact where other fundraising activities are limited.
• Call for PTA Board Members to serve next year: President, Vice President and Secretary positions will all be available.

March 2021 Minutes Approval, Accomplishments     

• MOTION to approve March 2021 minutes, seconded and passed. Minutes are posted to PTA Facebook and website.
• Upcoming Equity Roundtable Meeting: Discussion of Representation Matters Idea– funding new books, new decorations to show representation of diverse groups to inspire all students. Also, discussion of adding a buddy system with pair new families with current families to increase school engagement.
• Spring Virtual Assembly Done: Ms. Money and the Coins sponsored by Rockland Trust; lots of positive feedback.
• Snowman Contest: Prizes awarded for biggest, smallest, most creative, most sporty, funniest, most school spirit; student winners notified.
• There are four programs that raise money for our school with little-to-no-effort on our part:
• Box Tops – cut from purchase or download the app and scan receipts post-shopping trip
• Amazon Smile – signup through your Amazon account or app
• Coca-Cola Give – create an account and scan codes under caps or in cartons
• Stop & Shop – register your S&S card for up to two schools

Updates Across the Lyndon

• School Site Council:
  • Students in school are doing really well back in school, following COVID protocols, etc.
  • Discussion of the preparations for children returning 5 days/week in person.
• Citywide Parent Council (CPC) update:
  • District Budget Office Presented: We are in year 2 of three-year financial commitment from the City.  3 priorities for funds: return (retuning kids to school, safety, building improvements, additional custodians), recover (concern about enrollment numbers – is this just due to COVID? Funds to school to offset weighted student funding deficiency, hire a point 5 social worker and family liaison for every school, reimagine (reimaging learning spaces and programming focusing on inclusivity and looking at learning through an anti-racist lens).  CPC looking for parents to sit on subcommittees that will be examining these issues. 
  • Parent Council Fundraising Update: Working group to discuss protocols for individual school fundraising.
  • AWC, Exam School, MCAS working groups will be reporting back at next meeting.
  • Call for parent volunteers to serve on subcommittees that are of interest.
  • Next Meeting 4/27/21 at 6pm

            Friends of the Lyndon (FOTL) update:

• President, Secretary, Treasurer spots for FOTL will be available next year. Encouragement for new folks to volunteer and get involved in official and unofficial capacities. 
• 50/50 March Madness Bracket fundraised $400.
• FOTL also purchased 13 document cameras to help teachers with remote teaching.

• Room Parent Update:
  • Stefanie sent email to all room parents alerting them to openings on PTA Board for 2021-2022 school year and encouraging them to get involved.
• Wellness Committee Update:
  • No update.
• Caring Committee:
  • DiMaggio is ill and suffered a stroke. We are all wishing her a quick recovery. A Go Fund Me page received many donations, exceeded its goal and it has now been disabled. Mr. Ward will update us as to whether there is anything else the Lyndon community can do to assist.
• Lyndon Equity Roundtable:
  • Representation Matters Idea– funding new books, new decorations to show representation of diverse groups to inspire all students.
  • Discussion of adding a buddy system with pair new families with current families to increase school engagement.
• Library Update:
  • Library committee still working with teachers and students to coordinate return of outstanding books. If you still have books, please return them to classroom teachers or the front office.

Treasurer’s Report

• No change in revenue change from last report.
• Teacher grants are being utilized and will be available through the end of the year. Reminder sent out to teachers that these grants are available. 
• Some expenditures connected to Reflections awards.
• Balances remain similar to the end of last year due to missed fundraising events/targets and not much need for spending.
• ILX Software purchase ($1400) for SAR classes will likely be funded by the PTA again this year.
• If anyone has new fundraising ideas, please share them with the board.
• Lyndon Gear: On the site by week April 21st – tank tops, basketball shorts, lightweight pullover hoodies, performance tees for kids and adults and masks.
• Teacher Appreciation Week coming up (1^st week of May): PTA has planned something special for each day.

Spring Event Ideas to Consider:

• Spring Scholastic Book Fair: Discussion of timing – June might be the best option due to MCAS testing and teacher assessments. Looking for volunteers to assist with planning.
• Dancefit Program as a replacement for Field Day this year? DanceFit is an 8-day campaign w/daily 15-minute videos w/ characters that focus on different themes each day (grit, courage, teamwork, caring, etc).  End event is a 35-minute dance experience.  Discussion of whether Lyndon could do this as an in-person event.  Although this can be a fundraiser, our focus would be on getting the kids active and having fun; any money made would be gravy on the top.  The cost would be approx. $2000.  Discussion of logistics – where to hold this event?  When to hold this event and how to break out among the different grades? Small working group will meet offline to further discuss.
• Breakout Rooms:
  • End of Year PTA Celebration: Recommendation to find an outdoor space and hold the event.  PTA pays for food, cash bar.
  • Reflections Showcase: In addition to whatever we do in person, put together a you tube video of all submissions so the entire Lyndon community can celebrate the students’ work.  Suggestion to use the outdoor classroom as a space to showcase submissions/display video. 
  • Field Day: Discussion of scaling down activities to have a more manageable event given Covid protocols; perhaps discuss/loop in gym teachers as well.

Upcoming and Current Events List

• Upcoming Events:
  • School Site Council Meeting – April 15^th @ 5:30PM
  • Citywide Parent Council Meeting – April 27^th @ 6:00PM
  • Equity Roundtable Meeting –April 28th@ 7:00PM
  • Teacher Appreciation Week – May 3^rd-7^th
  • April PTA Meeting –May 12^th @ 6:30PM
  • Spring Bookfair – TBD
• The next PTA meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 at 6:30.

Meeting adjourned. 

Minutes submitted by Secretary, Katie Hazelton