Bath Elementary PTA
2/9/10 Meeting
Fisher Mitchell Library
PTA OFFICERS IN ATTENDANCE:
Heidi Tucker, President; Heidi Franklin, Dike-Newell (D/N) Vice President; Lori Harper, Treasurer; Mikaela Rios, Secretary
WELCOME:
Heidi Tucker began the meeting at 6:30pm.
SECRETARY’S REPORT:
The minutes of the January 12, 2010 meeting were approved as-is. The minutes are always posted on the blog.
TREASURER’S REPORT:
We currently have $9,053.05 in the account.
NEW BUSINESS:
Bullying:
Larry Dyer gave a report on the bullying incidences at F/M. He pointed out that it is cyclical and we seem to be having a year with more incidents. For anti-bullying programs to be successful, they need to be ongoing. Larry will see if Suzanne Paule, the school social worker, can go into classes to educate on bullying. Larry will also ask the teachers to have ongoing class meetings to discuss feelings and strategies. It was also mentioned that Suzanne Paul could write a newsletter section about strategies to deal with bullying. Another suggestion was to have a “Tell Box” where kids could anonymously report bullying.
Community Read:
Joan Newkirk is organizing the Community Read with special guest Jim Nelson of the Maine Maritime Museum. April 2nd may be the date for the Community Read, in conjunction with Fish Chowder Night and the Star Raffle.
Star Raffle:
Heidi Tucker updated us on this project. We’d like to do this in conjunction with Community Read and a proposed Fish Chowder Night. Odyssey of the Mind could team up with PTA to host this event. We could decorate with a nautical theme. Events will be held at Fisher Mitchell, most likely on April 2nd. The PTA has purchased 30 stars, being painted by each of the elementary school classes. Raffle tickets will be sold for $1 each. We’ll also be asking local businesses for any item they’d like to donate, which we could set up as a White Elephant sale (silent auction?). We’d also ask parents for any unused item they’d like to donate. The proceeds from the food sales could go to Odyssey and the proceeds of the Star Raffle and White Elephant Sale would go to the PTA.
NEW BUSINESS, continued:
Bath Book Shop Sale:
Candy Hernandez informed us of an easy fundraiser for the PTA that will take place on March 13th. For shoppers sent to the book store from our schools, 20% of the profits from sales will go to the PTA.
Summer Camp Scholarships:
Heidi Tucker informed us of her efforts to procure more summer camp scholarships for this summer. Last summer’s was a rousing success, with 39 kids afforded the opportunity to attend summer camp for free. Larry will make announcements over the intercom regarding this opportunity and flyers will be sent home with the kids. Clare Berkowitz suggested that when applying for the grant money, we ask for money for every child to attend summer camp. If we don’t receive that much in grant money, we can choose the number of applicants we can support.
TV Turn Off Week:
Candy Hernandez will find out when in April this will occur and we’ll discuss at the March meeting.
Teacher Appreciation Week:
This could be May 3 – 7 or the last week of school, as we did last year. We will discuss this at the March or April meeting.
Teacher Requests:
Tammy Baxter requested $260 for Officer Salty program (Save Animal Life for Tomorrow’s Youth), which will be expanded to all of 4th grade next year. This will be the pilot program for F/M. Live sea creatures will be brought in to study, then dissect and cook. Also, there will likely be a live video feed with a school in Georgetown who has a salt water tank.
VOTE: $260 Approved for the Officer Salty Program
Susan Cyr requested $75 for material for costumes for the Kindergarten music concert. Heidi Tucker suggested $100 would be more appropriate.
VOTE: $100 Approved for material purchase
Susan Cyr requested money for one or, ideally, two, group microphones for the school. This is important for concerts so that the audience can hear the little voices in a non-acoustical setting. The microphones will be between $120 - $200 each, including microphone stands. Susan will get the final cost to Heidi Tucker. The Rotary Club is being approached as a possible donor for this need. The concert will be 3/25, so time is of the essence.
Susan Harrison requested $880 for the Planetarium Dome. It is for every class in Fisher Mitchell. The Dome would be scheduled for April 1st and 8th.
VOTE: $880 Approved for the Planetarium Dome
NEW BUSINESS, continued:
BIW Gate Collection:
Great fundraiser! Ann Dunham brought up the idea of this as a fundraising idea and we will ask her if she is interested in pursuing this initiative. We will discuss at the March meeting.
RIF Funding:
RIF funding is cut for next year so children will not be receiving a free book from RIF. Please pass on this link to encourage parents to get involved in the fight against this funding cut that will affect children http://www.capwiz.com/rif/issues/alert/?alertid=14654616.
Family School Partnership Awards:
March 1st is the deadline to apply for this $500 prize. Heidi Tucker will write about the good things the PTA does, in hopes of winning $500. Topics will be about the summer camp scholarships, literacy fund, and the CEP money being the majority of the budget.
Principals’ Report:
Sally Brown reported that with regard to Technology, it looks like next year, each K-6 staff member will receive an Apple Mac laptop. Also, Seth (Technology guy) is looking into a wireless network for the school. Meanwhile, Heidi Franklin is looking into pricing for another wireless network (Apple Extreme Network) for a wing of the school that doesn’t have internet access. Heidi F. is working with Seth.
Sally suggested that Gretchen Brinkler, the D/N counselor, be invited to a PTA meeting to discuss bullying solutions.
More Treasurer Reporting / CEP requests:
Lori Harper reviewed and we approved the following CEP requests:
- Rueben Hernandez (Spanish), $200 for ink
- Candy Hernandez (D/N Library), $100 for new library books
- Mary Read (art), $40 for sewing machine cleaning
- Jo Ann Powers (Title One), $200 for books
- D/N Food Service, up to $100 for food processor
For the newsletter: Betsy’s Hair Salon is donating $1 for every $12 haircut to the PTA!
The meeting ended sometime around 8:30pm.
NEXT MEETING:
Next Meeting is March 9, 2010 at the Dike Newell Library.
NUMBER IN ATTENDANCE AT MEETING: 13
