MINUTES

FORTS FERRY GENERAL PTA MEETING

May 1, 2013

6:30pm

Members Present: Kate Biel, Angela Duax, Sheryl Farrell, Brook Greco, Kathy Mattison, Cheryl Mattox, Elaine Powell, Kelly Razzano, Sue Rys, Stephen Doak, Jackie Guba, Candace Lobdell, Mary Nardolillo, Corine Perna Also Present: Ron Vondell, Mary Ellen Raup, Linda Harrison, Joe Corr

  • Welcome & Introductions; meeting called to order at 6:32 by President Cheryl Mattox
  • Motion to accept meeting minutes, emailed to membership 3/8/13; Brook Greco made the motion, Kate Biel seconded. Unanimously approved.
  • Superintendent Joe Corr presented the Proposed Budget and answered questions.
  • Committee Updates
  • Silver Graphics Update- Theresa Aquino emailed her report for the meeting:

All the items that were ordered arrived and were distributed today. There were a total of 129 orders submitted this year. We collected $3,789.00 from those orders, and paid Silver Graphics a total of $2,495.00. That gives us a profit of $1,294.00. Profits are down $190.50 from last year. However, the number of students who submitted artwork went down as well. Kudos to the following classes - who all had a 100% submission rate: Mr. Bailey, Mrs. McMillen, Mr. Floyd, Ms. Guba, Mrs. Clayton, Mrs. Duffy, Mrs. Hippchen, Mrs. Morse, and Mr. Doak.

Theresa reported several comments from parents this year - most of which fall into two categories:

1. They wished their student had submitted artwork. Or, they wished they had known that the students needed to work on it outside of the classroom. (In some classrooms, this was a change from past years where students were given time to work on it in school.)

2. Several parents of 6th grade students commented that they were happy to have had their children participate throughout their years at Forts Ferry. Some even mentioned that they got the same thing every year to see the changes in the artwork as their child grew. However, as noted above, some were unhappy that they were unable to get that final item from their child's last year at Forts Ferry.

  • Green Sneaker (Brook Greco/Trish Bulatao)- Brook Greco reviewed the Green Sneaker Donation/Fundraiser. If we collect at least 500 pairs of sneakers, we will earn about $1/pair. However, if we fall short of this goal, it will be a donation-only endeavor. We will still be helping those in need even if we don’t make money. However, Brook will make copies of a flyer and send it out. We can also extend the May 10th deadline if necessary.
  • Yearbook- Angela Duax reported that the yearbook is off to publication. We are taking orders now through the end of school. Yearbooks are $15 each.
  • Spring Book Fair- Jen Scavo emailed a report:

Due to a scheduling snafu, the bookfair will be held a week earlier than planned. A link to volunteerspot.com is ready to go, but we will wait on teacher signups before we send it out in order to minimize “downtime” of our volunteers. Here is the tentative schedule and we will need lots of volunteers.

Mon 5/13 4pm setup

Tue 5/14 9-3 preview

wed 5/15 9-3 preview

thu 5/16 9-3 buying

fri 5/17 9-3 buying

mon 5/20 9-3 buying

tue 5/21 9-7 buying 7pm takedown

Also, we should note that Scholastic says next year we have to confirm our fair 8 weeks out online and they will not be doing reminder calls. They have our fall fair scheduled for Nov. 4th-8th,so hopefully we do not run into a problem again with the schedule.

  • Fresh Flower Sale- Angela Duax reported that the Flower Sale will be Friday, May 10th during lunch. A flyer will go out with details. There is a large order this year, so everyone who would like to buy flowers should have a chance to do so.
  • Teacher Appreciation- Sheryl Farrell reported that she is the chairperson, and will work with Dr. Lobdell to create a nice plan for teachers during a week in June. Other members offered to help with this.
  • Carnival- Jackie Guba reported that the annual Carnival will be on June 8th from 12-4pm. This is a week later than usual in an effort to minimize NYSMA & Friehofer’s Run conflicts. We will have the carnival games/prize booth & BonBon the Facepainter again for the kids. Adults will have the opportunity to buy raffles for the grade-level baskets. We are also doing some new things---Pie in the Face to staff volunteers, a photobooth, and a CakeWalk. We have tried to make the Carnival appealing to all students K-6 by adding some new things. We will also have The Test Drive Fundraiser---all people have to do is come the carnival, and test drive a car (which will be here). The PTA earns $10 per driver.
  • Raffle Baskets for Carnival – Melissa Garber & Joy Rafferty emailed a report stating that donations are being collected until 5/10 for the baskets. So far, the response has been fair. Two more email reminders will be sent out before the 10th. The baskets will be assembled and put in the display case in the front of the school to publicize the baskets and carnival. Raffle tickets will be sold at the carnival and in advance. At the end of the Carnival, the grade level with the most tickets wins a popsicle party.
  • Dr. Lobdell provided an overview of events that have happened since the March PTA meeting and will be happening in the near future:
  • 5th & 6th grade play occurred in March.
  • Testing in April (NYS ELA & Math for grade 3-8) was awful and very difficult.
  • More mandated (Student Learning Objectives—SLO) are coming in May
  • May 21 is Budget Night- 1st grade play & math fair will also be held.
  • There are many end-of-the-year activities coming. Parents will need to use RSVP system to gain access to the building.
  • Mrs. Maddrick, our school nurse, is retiring.
  • PTA Officer Nominations/Elections for 2013-14 (1 year terms beginning on July 1): The following people were nominated by Angela Duax, seconded by Jackie Guba:
  • President- Sue Rys
  • VP1- Melissa Heid
  • VP2- Kathy O’Brien
  • Secretary- Melissa Ford
  • Treasurer- Kate Biel

The officers will elected by unanimous vote. PTA Membership applauded Angela Duax for her many years of service as a PTA Officer.

  • Treasurer’s Report & Proposed Budget for 2013-14- by Kate Biel
  • The PTA’s account balance is approximately $32,000, and has hovered around this amount for several years. We have consistently maintained a balanced budget while providing money for Children’s Programs, classroom/material stipends, 6th grade events, etc. This year we also purchased Ipads for the library and drums for music class. We did not spend budgeted money for Author’s Day, movie nights, the family dance, or lego league.
  • The proposed budget includes maintaining current programs (minus lego league), adding new social events (Halloween Masquerade Ball, Family Fun Night, Ice Cream Social), and decreasing fundraising (we will limit fundraising to the Fall Catalog, Carnival Festivities, and “freebies” such as Target money, BoxTops, Green Sneaker Donations. We will draw about $4470 from our “Reserves.” We would like the PTA to focus on giving the kids & families opportunities for fun rather than asking for money when we have money in our fund balance.
  • Jackie Guba made a motion to pass the budget; Kathy Mattison seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

No new business.

Meeting was adjourned at 7:40.