CABOT PTO GENERAL MEETING NOTES

THURSDAY, JUNE 15th, 2017, 8:30 AM

CABOT SCHOOL CAFETERIA

  • MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE
  • Jen Abbott, Nicky Chapman, Andrea Steenstrup, Linda Barrows, Susan Sloan, Joanna Josephson, Agnes Pietrzyk, Susan Yospin, Valerie Gopinath, Shirley Huang, Eva Thompson, Ali Dunn, Ginny Richmond, Kathy Liu
  • REVIEW OF CABOT PTO ACTIVITIES
  • Jen Abbott (President) went over list of events and accomplishments of the PTO over 2016-2017 school year
  • Nicky Chapman (Treasurer) passed out flowers to the departing 5th grade parents (Andrea Steenstrup-5th grade Activities and Jen Abbott-President)
  • BUDGET OVERVIEW
  • Budget was e-mailed out previously
  • This year there was concern about having enough money to do all of our events because of a decline in funds raised
  • Because we had roll over funds, the PTO was okay
  • Nicky Chapman (Treasurer) states that budget has been adjusted accordingly for next year
  • Nicky is aware of all the expenses for the rest of the year so there are no surprises
  • Teachers have been told to spend what they have been given
  • In the past, teachers have usually not spent everything they were allotted
  • Green Committee
  • Nicky hasn’t heard from them and isn’t sure if anyone wants to head this up but funds can be available for this committee next year
  • Principal Discretionary Fund
  • Looks high because we received extra funds for it this year
  • Technology Purchase/Maintenance
  • PTO should not be responsible for this anymore
  • Hospitality
  • May be expenses for this at the end of the year
  • Class Picnics budget
  • Can be evaluated by Executive Committee next year to see if we have funds to do this
  • School Pass (Transportation system app)
  • Contract for 2 years at Carr
  • Rollover
  • Whatever hasn’t been spent from 2016-2017 budget becomes rollover
  • Nicky thinks we’ll have $2,000 to $3000 of retained earnings for next year
  • CASC (Creative Arts and Sciences Committee)
  • Will stay at $16,000 for next year
  • There will be more discussion with Eric Sprung (Incoming Principal) and teachers about how many CASC programs they want to do and how expensive a program they want
  • 2 Years Without big fundraisers
  • Silent auction
  • Raffle
  • Budget will be voted on online
  • SLATE OF INCOMING EXECUTIVE BOARD
  • Change in teacher representatives
  • Heidi Lucas and Melissa Nash
  • Joe Guarino will be stepping down
  • Vote for Exec Board will be done online-Google Docs
  • Voting will be open starting today until next Tuesday
  • Results will be recorded, then approved
  • Still looking for volunteers for School Council
  • School Council is the advisory board to the principal. They review the school improvement plan and discuss general school matters
  • Usually made up of 3 staff and 3 parents and the principal is one of the members of the staff
  • We already have 1 volunteer (Michele Morris)
  • Sydney Balise is leaving and Jill Liebowitz is joining in
  • 2 year commitment
  • Current parent members
  • Catherine Dun Rappaport
  • Michele Morris (has volunteered)
  • Kathy Liu (possible parent volunteer)
  • APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM MAY 2, 2017 GENERAL PTO MEETING
  • Valerie Gopinath (Corresponding Secretary) made motion to approve the minutes, Nicky Chapman (Treasurer) seconded the motion and all PTO members approved the motion
  • CLASS PICNICS
  • Nicky Chapman (Treasurer) has been communicating with the room parents
  • Jen Abbott (President) says there’s napkins and some other supplies available
  • Asks that we don’t put more stuff back in PTO cabinet; tell parents to take stuff home
  • Jacqueline Badeau (Room Parent Coordinator) states that she ordered pizza from Papa Gino’s yesterday. She told them she needed to feed 150 people with $300 and there were leftovers
  • She spent $274.00 and got 38 pizzas (12 were pepperoni)
  • Papa Gino’s also delivers
  • CLASS GIFTS REVIEW
  • Must be from the whole class
  • $150.00 per staff member
  • Anything from child or child’s family must be sentimental (note, card, etc.)
  • Encourage families to do Honor Thy Teacher
  • Eva Thompson (Interim Principal) says teachers love receiving the acknowledgements from Honor Thy Teacher
  • Jacqueline Badeau (Room Parent Coordinator) is concerned that there are other teachers who don’t get gifts and we should try to have them be recognized (e.g. specialists, gym/art/music teachers)
  • MEET UPS AT CARR OVER THE SUMMER
  • Dates and times to be posted on PTO website
  • Very informal
  • Sign-up Genius for Exec. Committee to volunteer during the Carr meet up
  • FAREWELLS TO DEPARTING STAFF MEMBERS
  • Eva Thompson, Joan Berk, Matt Tirrell, Ms. Drouin
  • Will take place next Thursday afternoon
  • Eva Thompson (Interim Principal) says there are a few other people moving on and she will send a note about that
  • Also 2 new teachers have been hired
  • END OF THE YEAR WRAP UP
  • Thank you celebration at Andrea Steenstrup’s home tomorrow night
  • Andrea Steenstrup (5th Grade Activities) asked if students were allowed to write on the walls since they’re leaving and building is getting renovated
  • Eva Thompson (Interim Principal) says no
  • Zervas allowed writing on the walls and the staff ended up having to remove and clean offensive writing
  • Instead Cabot will be doing a school picture with student thumbprint
  • Library books missing
  • Jill Liebowitz (Library teacher) states that 150 books are still out
  • She has been telling kids what books are still missing
  • Eva Thompson (Interim Principal) recommends sending out a Constant Contact note to individual families
  • MySchoolAnywhere
  • Nicky Chapman (Treasurer) states that this will be updated in the summer
  • If anyone wants any departing 5th grader’s info, they should get it from the system now
  • Families will get a chance to review and update their info themselves
  • Families will be asked whether or not they want a paper copy of the Cabot Directory
  • Kathy Liu asks if we could charge a small fee ($5.00) for those who want a paper copy since all of this is online
  • Jen Abbott (President) says this was done in the past
  • Jacqueline Badeau (Room Parent Coordinator) states that some people aren’t tech savvy and some families may not have the funds
  • Nicky Chapman (Treasurer) says that families have different preferences of how to share their personal info
  • Some want their info shared online and not paper and vice versa
  • Plus there are other features on MySchoolAnywhere
  • Cards for Crossing guard
  • Ali Dunn (Asst. Treasurer) says that you can sign the card at drop off on the Black Top
  • 5th Grade Book Drive
  • New and used books being collected
  • Will be distributed at a health center in Brighton and passed out in doctors’ offices
  • Can be in different languages

MEETING ADJOURNED