MUDDY BROOK REGIONAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PTA MEETING
MARCH 14, 2012
K. Houston called the meeting to order at 7:03pm.
1) Treasurer’s report: S. Higa described the rationale for the 2011/12 fundraising plan. Our current balance stands at $16,072.03. Outstanding remains payment to Audubon and BTF for spring programming. Thus, our bottom line is closer to $12,000. However, more revenue is expected from Mud Day. S. Higa pointed out that we intentionally did not do the auction this spring because Mud Day also occurs in the spring and we need to space out our requests for support both from parent volunteers and community businesses. S. Higa and K. Houston pointed out that C. Cavanaugh donated her time for the catering for Literacy Night. Thank you Cathy! Finally, we are budgeting $2500 for ipads for the technology grant.
2) President’s report: K. Houston reminded members that a new slate is required for election at
the April meeting. K. Houston introduced the Policy & Procedures handbook and pointed out that it can be used to help officers and committee chairs become acclimated to a new position. K. Houston requested nominations for the four elected positions:
a) President: Michaela Dohoney nominated Susan Higa for President, Corey Sprague seconded. Corey Sprague nominated Jen Knopf for President and Heather Boyko seconded.
b) Vice President: Susan Higa nominated Michaela Dohoney for Vice President and Corey Sprague seconded.
c) Treasurer: S. Higa nominated and Heather Boyko seconded Jennifer Knopf
d) Secretary: Abby Tovell nominated and Cathy Cavanaugh seconded Kim Bradway
Committee chair appointments were reviewed:
a) Fundraising: Jen Germain has volunteered ,
b) Communications: Abby Tovell has volunteered and been appointed.
c) Membership Coordinator remains to be appointed. Volunteers are encouraged to contact PTA board members.
d) Rewards Coordinator will be a dual position: Heather Boyko has agreed to organize Boxtops and Michelle Sirois has volunteered to organize the Scrip program.
3) Thank you for Literacy Night support – K. Houston congratulated Melissa Farrell and thanked Cathy Cavanaugh for her donation of time for the catering for the event. C. Cavanaugh pointed out that per person expenditure for food was $3.80. Extra thanks to Donna Benham and Jen Knopf for their time and effort, as we well as to Abby Tovell and Kim Bradway for organizing activities for the children.
4) School Committee & Budget Update: K. Houston reported that $5,000 was added to the school budget intended for activities at Muddy Brook. That money may be used to offset the price of some of the activities for which the PTA has historically paid. K. Houston urged people to attend their town meeting in order to support school financial needs.
5) Committee Reports
a) Read-A-Thon: D. Benham reported that participation is down this year as compared to last year. K. Houston proposed that next year literacy night might be the kick off for the read-a-thon. K. Houston suggested soliciting feedback regarding participation in the read-a-thon. H. Boyko suggested that the lightbulb fundraiser may have interfered with participation in the read-a-thon.
b) After School Program: Susan Higa reported that next session will be activity based and will begin at the end of April. Cara Becker is coordinating a Health and Wellness week to take place April 30-May 4. Health and Wellness week will include a fair with vendors, and kids’ activities. During the week, several healthy activities for children will be offered including healthy cooking, tae kwon do, cross fit kids, etc. Anyone interested in helping should contact Cara Becker.
c) Rewards/Scrip Report: J. Knopf reported that the last Box Tops challenge ended last Friday, Mrs. Dupont’s class won the movie day. Mr. Chamberlain’s class won the crafts day with Thad and Melissa. J. Knopf sent in Labels for education recently and will meet with Thad to place an order for coke tops. Jen Knopf reported that Scrip has yielded a profit of $873 profit so far. Price Chopper has just joined the program and will offer %.05 back.
d) Communications: Abby Tovell discussed revamping the newsletter or attempting to find the most effective ways to communicate with parents. C. Sprague pointed out that we have a captive audience at the concert and to use that time to get our messages out to parents and families.
e) Spring Dance: J. Knopf reported that there was a committee meeting Tuesday, March 13th. The dance is scheduled for Friday, April 13th. The theme is Enchanted Forest and some beautiful decorations were displayed. Decorations will be raffled off. There will be promotion for the dance including flyers and signs throughout the school. Based upon attendance in previous years, projected attendance is 400 people. Will offer advance purchase price tickets for the dance with a discount to encourage early ticket buying. J. Knopf and the committee requested a photographer to capture the experience. Proposed a “photocard”—where a photographer takes pictures and can print them on the spot. Photos will include a magnet sleeve offer as well as lamination and a lanyard. We will charge $6 per photo/3 for $15/5 for $20. D. Benham reported that we have sponsors willing to support the expense. K. Houston asked whether we could use the sponsors to cover the cost of the decorations or the event. Hillary Drucker asked whether we could ask a local photographer to take pictures of people at the event. K. Houston wondered whether we could have sponsors just for the dance and not for the photo booth per se. It was concluded that financial support from sponsors will go to the general dance budget rather than to the photographer per se.
5) New Business:
a) Request for Literacy materials – Interventionists: C. Way expressed appreciation for literacy night. C. Way has proposed a grant to purchase “big books” and packets of books for kindergarten and first grade. Teachers would be able to use these books for up to 5 lessons per week. The utility of the purchase will bring guided reading into each classroom more deeply. C. Way requested as much financial support as could be provided, as building more literacy materials in early grades will likely help later students. K. Houston proposed funding purchase for the first grade classes. Cathy C. moved, Michaela seconded appropriation of the grant of $1,545,66 for purchase of guided reading materials for the first grade. Vote was unanimous.
b) Melissa Farrell requested $150 to buy money for snacks for students during MCAS testing. Michaela Dohoney moved and Corey Sprague seconded the motion. All approved.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:50pm. Next meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 17th, 2012.
Respectfully submitted,
Heather Veague
Secretary
