PTA Meeting

March 23, 2015

Attendance: Jorie Stryker, Hilary Roxe, Christie Moag, Melissa Johnson, Michelle Lansinger, Sue Hershfled, Dawn Hoffmaster, Aline Lin, Theresa Bassett, Allison Gerbereux, Jackie Piercey, Jeff Knaub, Esther Winkoff (13)

President’s Welcome: Hilary Roxe

Treasurer’s Report: Christie Moag

  • Updated budget reviewed

Secretary Report: Jorie Stryker

  • None

Vice-President’s Report: Melissa Johnson

None

Principal’s Report: Sue Hershfeld

  • Schools open April 2nd for half day for children, 6 days and 24 hours we have missed and 7 were built in to the calendar
  • Operating budget is given to school each year to be used for school needs, this is being dramatically cut for 2 reasons – because of the roll out of the devices and print management it will be $40,000 less than it was 3 years ago.
  • Two pieces that cannot be managed are Gold folders and student agendas ($750-$1400)
  • The budget will continue to decline and want to make sure we still have the essentials. Price per child is going down to a low of $78 in 2019. In 2010-2011 it was $142 per student, we need to start talking about how to manage all this and making sure we can get the essentials, need a decision from PTA by June 30th
  • Group of teachers and Mrs. Hershfeld went on a field trip today to visit a Lighthouse school (Rodgers Forge) which looks at instruction in a very different way, they loved it, great thing about the trip is WTES is already doing a lot of what they saw there, next month more teachers will go visit Mays Chapel. Helps children better understand how they learn and how they can make better choices.
  • Generations Day was a huge success! Lots of positive feedback- Mr. Tom was out scraping and salting very early because of the weather to make sure it would be easy for our elderly; volunteer parents were so helpful.
  • Orioles Day is May3rdh, community can buy tickets for the day and any funds will go to help the cost of the 4th grade trip to St. Mary’s county
  • Westy Walk Pep Rally is coming soon with the t-shirt contests and spirit day

Vice-Principal’s Report: Dawn Hoffmaster

-Bus evacuation went well

-PAARCC testing is almost complete, end of year testing is May 4-11 and this takes place of MAP testing, 5th grade taking MSA Science

Teachers Report: Mrs. Lansinger

None

New Business:

-Guidelines for Committee and Chair positions were shared by Hilary which follow closely to the PTA By-Laws

-Officers are also looking at the Officer positions and if they can be strengthened or altered to created a foundation where more people can get involved

-9:00-9:20 and during lunch time need volunteers for Patriots & Defenders

-Collecting bean bags, pillows and other seating options for the classrooms, FatBoy cushions, innertubes, balls, for each teacher,

Box Tops:

None

Environmental:

  • Bin cannot be put on the grounds according to BCPS
  • Will look at outside sources who can come for a few hours and then leave with the donations, they do not need access for the inside of the school
  • Monica will be stepping down as Chair of the Environmental Committee

Hospitality:

-Teacher Appreciation Day will be Monday, May 6th with lunch from the Lunch Ladies

- 5th Grade graduation, insurance PTA people will have a waiver for this and it will continue to be on the 18th in the afternoon until we hear from the Board of Ed to confirm the last day of school as the 19th, and this will continue from year to year with $8.00 contribution from PTA budget

Special Education:

None

Patriots & Defenders:

None

Cultural Arts:

None

Book Fair:

  • Huge thanks to all volunteers
  • Very close to beating our last year’s amount by 5%(Target Goal was $11314 and we are at $11214 now)
  • If we can get that extra $100 in sales from our Online Book Fair by Friday, our PTA/school will be getting over $500 Scholastic Dollars as a bonus for our school!
  • Thanks so much for another wonderful PTA Sponsored West Towson Book Fair!

Generations Day:

-A few donated items was Baltimore Coffee and Tea donated 150 cups of coffee, leftover

-MOMS Organic Market donated paper product, left over

BCPS Educational Channel was here to air the event

Health and Wellness:

None

School Spirit Wear:

  • $131 for Fit Night and $70 for Generations Day
  • Question about Spirit Wear be sold at the Westy Walk, Mrs. Hershfeld said that we could try it

School Store:

None

Social:

  • Hilary reported that the PTA is hoping to separate the social events throughout the year to specific chairs who oversee one specific event and not the same Social Chairs overseeing all the events as done in the past. Hoping this will bring in more opportunities for leadership and volunteering and less of a time commitment on just a couple of volunteers.

Yearbook:

  • Photo collection has closed but you can still submit if you have some important events coming up
  • Contest winner is the 5 Year Anniversary
  • Spring photos need to be scheduled in the beginning of March rather than the end of March

Meeting Adjourned at 7:54 p.m.

Jorie Stryker

Secretary