Wakefield Elementary School

Wakefield Elementary School

PTA Board Meeting Minutes

Date: August 5, 2014 Time: 4:30 pm

Meeting called by: Rosemary Ros Type of meeting: Standard

Facilitator: Rosemary Ros Timekeeper: Christine Merrin

Minutes: Stacie Topp Location: Media Center

Attendees: Gina Vitrano, Cheryl Simpson, Rosemary Ros, Christine Merrin, Stacie Topp, Jayme Roof, Ed Gilewicz

Absentees: Shana Lentz, Tara Edwards, Ashley Laurel, Victoria Privott

I. Call to Order

• The WES PTA Board meeting was called to order at 4:35 pm.

II. Approval of Minutes

• A motion was raised by Cheryl to approve the meeting minutes from July 8, 2014. This was seconded by Rosemary. The motion passed.

III. Presidents Update

• Rosemary welcomed Jayme to the Board; taking the position of VP of Guidance.

• There has been a change in the offered amount of money for the teachers’ grants. As approved by the PTA Board from the previous school year; the amount offered per teacher, or teacher group, has gone up to $700 per grade. Grant request #1 is for the 4th Grade. The teachers are asking for $593.75 for a subscription to the “Time for Kids” magazine. There is a chance this amount may me lower as more details are determined. The PTA has supported this in previous years. A motion was made by Gina to go forward with the grant with the provision that all 4th grade teachers must become PTA member, because only PTA members can receive grants. This was seconded by Cheryl. The motion passed.

The second grant is for the Media Center. Mrs. Brown is asking for $853.74 to purchase additional books for the 4th and 5th Graders who would like to participate in the Challenge for Chapters competition. Since this is over the limit for the grants, a motion was raised by Cheryl to only put forth the $700. This was seconded by Gina.

• Rosemary also mentioned further details and conformations for the Fall Festival. The food truck, Charlie Kabob, has confirmed attending the Fall Festival. The other food trucks that have also confirmed are: Roll Dog Express & Italian Ice, Deli-icious Food Truck, Cockadoodledoo (this is a new truck and they have asked we keep the name to ourselves until their Grand Opening), Sarge's Chef on Wheels, Sweet Traditions by LeAne and Lumpy's. The DJ and facepainter, whom the PTA has used for past events, have also confirmed. Volunteers from the high school will need to be procured once the school goes back into session.

• One of the focuses of the PTA this year is School Improvement. It has been mentioned that perhaps a mural, painted by the WHS Beta Club, would be a good addition to the main hallway. PTA would need to only pay for the supplies. Improving the lobby would be a part of this as well. Rosemary mentioned that having a nice looking or welcoming lobby helps a school look more inviting. Examples of changes that could occur in the lobby are taking down the flags and installing different lounge seating. The cork strips down the hallways will need to be replaced or perhaps changed out to full bulletin boards. These changes could occur throughout the school year as an ongoing project.

IV. Teacher’s Report

• Chris mentioned that it would be great to have full-sized bulletin boards in the hallways rather than cork strips.

• A Google Document has been created so that teachers can see and sign up for times for the Spirit Nights this year. Chris has been working with Amanda Viele with this. It would benefit the document if the PTA could access it as well. Rosemary suggested that the PTA Board addresses be invited to view and add to the document. A few teachers have signed up to attend the Sweet Spoons Spirit Nights but Chris will send out a reminder email soon so that more will sign up to attend.

• A few questions arose in regards to the possible improvements to the playgrounds. What are the limitations for the improvements- in other words, what can not be done? What would the teachers like to see? What would the students like to have changed? Chris offered to set up a Google Doc for teachers to add their thoughts.

V. Principal’s Report

• Mr. Gilewicz mentioned that Mr. Hill is interested in starting a Field Day for the school. He will need the help of volunteers.

• Ms. Privott is on board with the changes that could occur in the lobby.

VI. Treasurer’s Report

• Recent activity within the account has been in the form of payments for the Smartboards and with Membership donations.

• Gina met a father of a student after the Open House who mentioned the use of Ibota for Fundraising purposes. There are a number of steps to the use of this program. 1) The individual must download the app.

2) As items are purchased that are included with Ibota, a picture of the barcode must be taken. 3) A paypal or similar account but be set up. This poses a problem for the PTA to connect with these various accounts and have the money come into one for the PTA. This seems overly complicated and we currently have enough planned for the year with Fundraising.

• Gina is looking forward to having an opportunity to meet Mr. McCloud with Clorox. Clorox has given WES money for the past number of years including $333 last year.

• There have been two recent charges to the Active Network for PTA memberships, which Rosemary is aware.

• Amanda Viele and the audit crew found 3 outstanding checks which have not been deposited in the previous year. The checks went to parents in regards to the Father/ Daughter Dance and the Mother/ Son Event. We can cancel payment to the checks after 6 months which is coming up soon.

VII. VP of Membership and Volunteers

• Ashley was not in attendance, however Rosemary reported that we have 52 members in the PTA for the year and have received donations totaling $444.

VIII. VP of Events/ Fundraising

• The GoPlaySave books have been distributed to all students except for the ones in track 3. Those will go out the week of August 18. There will be a table in the lobby for collection until September 2 from 8:45-9:30am. Cheryl asked if we could help to let her know.

• The No-Fuss fundraiser is going on right now as well.

• The Fall Festival is coming together. Cheryl is still looking into the companies for the inflatables. She is considering the one we used 2 years ago, but is concerned with their reliability as they do not reply quickly, and last year we had to find an alternative three weeks before the Fall Festival. If we decide to not go this route, there will be more Interactive Playgrounds as there was last year. We still need chairs/ co-chairs for the arts and crafts, games and the bake sale. There will be fliers and information going out to the community. The fair will be from 10 am-5 pm on September 27th. Rolling Thunder will be there for the Opening Ceremony. 50/50 Raffle tickets will be sold but the winner will not be drawn until the Family Night for the Book Fair in November. There will be no stage acts this year. Cheryl hopes for the arts and crafts to be inside with the inflatables outside, weather permitting. The Food Trucks will be down the side driveway.

• Dr. Johnson from Carolina Pediatric Dentistry has been a community sponsor of the PTA in the past, when she was contacted by Rosemary for other reasons, she indicated that even though she no longer has students in WES, she would still like to continue as a community partner.

IX. VP of Communications

• Tara was not in attendance.

X. VP of Guidance

• Jayme has a number of questions in regards to this position and acquiring cultural events for the school but will look through the binder first.

• There is a grant application due on September 8.

• On August 16, from 8:30-4, there will be over 100 artists demonstrating their programs to view. Jayme, Rosemary and Gina will be attending this event.