Benjamin Banneker Elementary School PTA
Meeting Minutes
October 2,2008
I. Call to order
Sheila Rhatigan called to order the regular meeting of the BBES PTA at 5:00PM on Thursday, October 2 2008 in the BBES Media Center.
II. Roll call
Debra Bowling introduced the new Asst Principal for Little Ben, Jani Combs.
Sheila Rhatigan conducted a roll call. The following persons were present: Maureen Baxter, Debra Bowling, Clair Chatwin, Carmel Chick, Pamela Collins-Thomas, Barbara Czosek, Gene Czosek, Melinda Cummings, Bambi Cusic, Robin Girard, Lynda Hamm, Mark Howe, Heather Klasmeyer, Mary Mayotte-Kemp, Mitzi McConville, Sheila Rhatigan, Betsy St. Laurent, Renae Tieman
III. Approval of minutes from last meeting
No minutes from the last meeting were presented.
IV. Open issues
a) Treasurer’s Report, Mark Howe
Mark Howe presented a closeout report for fiscal year 2007-2008. For month ended September 30, 2008 we began with a balance of $8841.85 and ended with a balance of $2667.31. We will carry over $2667.31 as our starting balance for the new year. This carry over balance includes an amount promised to the art department so is not reflective of all expenses promised during 2007-2008.
b) Budget, Mark Howe
Mark Howe presented a proposed budget for fiscal year 2008-2009. Copies were distributed and are available on request. The budget was submitted for vote as printed. The budget passed by a unanimous show of hands.
c) CCPTA, Sue Simmerman
Sue Simmerman is our chapter’s representative to the CCPTA. She was not present and did not present a report this month.
d) Membership, Robin Girard
We currently have 105 parent members and two staff members. Most memberships were generated during Back to School Night and Open House. We also sent a membership form on the PTA meeting reminder. To increase staff participation we discussed incentives. Mrs. Bowling suggested this not necessary. Robin is working to enter all members into the PTA system and will disburse membership cards after data is entered. Robin shared membership forms with Mrs. Bowling to take to staff meeting.
e) Box Tops, Christy JohnsonChristy Johnson was not present. Sheila mentioned that the first Box Tops contest has concluded and the winners are posted on our new PTA website at
http://bbespta.blogspot.com.
f) Fall Festival,
The Fall Festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 25 at the school. We will have children’s activities, food, raffle baskets and a home business and craft fair. We currently have no coordinator and few volunteers for the Fall Festival. Cassie Nash will coordinate the craft sale in the gym. Food will be provided by the 3rd District Optimist Club. Renae Tieman will coordinate raffle tickets. Advance discount raffle tickets flyers were handed out at the meeting and are being sent home with students.
g) Parent/Teacher Conference Childcare, Stephanie St. Peter
Stephanie St. Peter was not present. Sheila noted that childcare will be available in the lunch room. We need volunteers to man the childcare room throughout the day for Parent/Teacher conference day on Monday, October 13. Registered volunteers are preferred. Mrs. Bowling provided a current list of registered volunteers. Sheila will send out an email to all members requesting volunteers.
h) Movie Night, Mary Mayotte-Kemp
Two movies currently on video will be available for viewing. We will provide one G-rated and one PG-rated movie in the cafeteria and gym. PTA will provide pizza and bottled water for a small fee and free popcorn. Movie suggestions were solicited. The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything was suggested and rejected. Nim’s Island was suggested and will be considered. Friday, November 14 or Friday, November 21 were suggested. We discussed that Nov 21 may be too close to Thanksgiving. November 14 was brought to a vote and passed by a show of 13 hands with one abstaining.
i) Holiday House, Renae Tieman
The Holiday House is a time for the students to shop for the holidays in a low budget environment. All gift items are under $6. The program will run December 8-12 at the school with setup and tear down the week before and after. Envelopes will be sent home with students a few weeks before the program begins. Parents are asked to contribute money and note how much and for whom the student should shop. Volunteers will assist the students with purchases. We had some problems with the company used last year so have investigated and determined to sign a contract with Fun Services. They are providing a 7% discount on all items. Renae presented a catalog of available items. We discussed that no religious or Christmas tree, etc type gifts will be made available even if a diversity of winter holidays are represented. Some monies are set aside to assist those students who cannot afford to participate. Teachers can nominate students for these Fun Bucks. Item prices will be slightly elevated from wholesale to cover Fun Bucks and administrative costs. This project is not a fundraiser and does not generate any profit.
j) Food Lion/Target/BJs Fundraising, Melinda P.
Melinda was not present and no report was given.
k) Printer Cartridges, Monica Lee
The company we previously used for the printer cartridge recycling fundraiser has gone out of business. Monica has been working with Staples to continue the program. Staples’ program was labor intensive and has not generated any funds to date. Monica suggested individuals continue to recycle their own printer cartridges but that the PTA chapter discontinues this project.
l) Reflections,
The Reflections program is a state-wide PTA art recognition program. The theme for this year is WOW! We do not yet have a coordinator for this program.
m) Art to Remember, Emily Labows
Emily & Chris Labows will chair this project again this year. Neither was present and no report was given.
n) Penny Drive, Cassie Nash
Cassie was not present. No report was given.
o) Papa John’s Spirit Night,
The Papa John’s Spirit Night will be held every third Wednesday each month.
V. New business
a) PTA Convention
The PTA convention is scheduled for Nov 14-15. $125 fee is included in budget. Sheila cannot go and asked for interested parties. Pamela Collins-Thomas volunteered to attend.
b) Economy & Fundraisers
Mrs. Bowling discussed that the school will not be presenting many canned fundraisers to be sensitive during this tough economy. Mrs. Bowling will send a letter to parents on which fundraisers are from the school and which are from the PTA.
c) Date/Time Change for Future Meetings
To best accommodate all parents we discussed changing the meeting time of PTA meetings to 6:30PM. On months with SIT meetings Sheila suggested following the SIT meeting with PTA at 5:00PM. On months without SIT meetings Sheila suggested meeting the third Thursday of the month at 6:30PM. Meetings would run Nov 20 5:00PM, Dec no meeting, Jan 15 6:30PM, Feb 26 5:00PM, Mar 19 6:30PM, Apr 16 6:30PM, May 7 5:00PM. Renae Tieman made a motion to adopt the new meeting times. Betsy St. Laurent seconded. The motion passed by a unanimous show of hands.
d) Beautification Day
There have been requests for PTA to sponsor a beautification day in November to spread mulch around the grounds. We can meet on a Friday after school or on a Saturday if we do not go inside the building. There may be interest in holding the beautification day twice in this year.
VI. Adjournment
Sheila Rhatigan adjourned the meeting.
Minutes submitted by: Mitzi McConville, Secretary
Minutes approved by: Carmel Chick, Vice President
