PTA Meeting Minutes
March 13, 2018

Board members present: PTA President Nikki Wilson
PTA Vice President Meg Power
PTA Secretary Leslie Hartman
PTA Treasurer Elliott Jordan

  1. Call to order: Meg Power at 6:03
  2. Meg Power asked all present to identify the school board district that they live in, for purposes of contacting their school board members about renewing our charter.
  3. Officer’s Reports:
  4. Vice President:
  5. Penny Wars starts this week with funds raised going to painting the blacktop on the playground.
  6. The walkway repair project will cost $2500, according to an estimate from a business owned by a PHSSA parent who will also use PHSSA labor to cut down the costs of the work. This walkway repair is needed due to faulty original construction. There will be an opportunity to vote on this issue later this meeting, after the treasurer presents his report.
  7. The Earth Day Extravaganza on 4/24 from 12:00-2:00pm will feature a parade with giant puppets in Forest Hill Park and an environmental fair to educate kids about environmental careers. Volunteers will be solicited by an upcoming Sign-Up Genius email.
  8. Meg Power proposed that the PTA discourage parents and staff from bringing Styrofoam products to events and activities due to its sizable carbon footprint both to produce and decompose.
  9. Treasurer:
  10. Current balance: $10,109.44
  11. Kroger rewards program—each person must renew their designation of PHSSA annually if they want the percentage to be donated to PHSSA.
  12. Buddy Bench still needs to be paid for.
  13. End of Year picnic coming up. Last year’s budget for this was $2000.
  14. Presented the audit from last year for members’ review.
  15. Vote on Walkway proposal:
  16. Ann-Alyssa Hill moved to accept the proposal to use PTA funds to repair the walkway outside the cafeteria.
  17. Jarwona Lyons seconded the motion.
  18. Motion passed by voice vote.
  19. President:
  20. Safety and security reminder: everyone entering the building should always use the front doors. If anyone is willing to volunteer to help with arrival and dismissal times, please send Nikki Wilson an email.
  21. Tonight we will work on writing notes to school board members to urge them to vote to renew our charter on 3/19/18. The meeting on this date will likely run late and the vote will likely be at the end, but all who are able are encouraged to attend and show support for PHSSA.
  22. Commendation for RPS STEM fair winners: Ryland Kennedy and Chelsea Clarke
  23. Ms. Wood was featured in the Times-Dispatch for her upcoming trip to Africa as a part of her Fulbright scholar award.
  24. PHSSA was also featured in the newspaper for winning an award for being one of the top workplaces in Richmond.
  25. Go Nuts for Reading Flying Squirrels game will take place on 5/1, and the Reading Day will take place on 3/17 from 10am-12pm in the library.
  26. Secretary: The PTA is organizing a Giving Tree this spring so parents can purchase supplies requested by teachers. Look for the tree on the PTA bulletin board in the hallway as well as an online opportunity to sign up for gifts.
  27. Ann-Alyssa Hill provided an SPMT update:
  28. The curriculum committee is updating our integrated curriculum for 2018-2019.
  29. The calendar committee has completed next year’s calendar and sent it out.
  30. SPMT is streamlining all committees (SPMT, PTA and Board) so that there is less redundancy and more clarity of function. The Health and Wellness Committee, Yearbook Committee and Community Outreach Team (to maintain and promote diversity among students, staff and board) are all looking for parent involvement.
  31. Parental Involvement Committee: Tiffany Townsend provided an update.
  32. The School Involvement Committee of the PHSSA board will meet again to work on the notification of parents about the number of hours they have left to complete.
  33. She will be streamlining Track It Forward so that there are fewer choices in the type of volunteer work parents choose to record.
  34. Garden Work Day 4/28
  35. Events and Fundraising: Cathy Durrette provided an update.
  36. There is a Spirit Wear link on the PHSSA website through which you can order T-shirts and hoodies from now until Spring Break. Polos were deemed too expensive.
  37. PHSSA car stickers are available in the office.
  38. There will be a Spirit Station at the Monument Avenue 10K on 4/14. Our school can will between $50-300 for demonstrating the most spirit. We need to have at least 8 people there at all times, and it helps to have a theme. This helps to spread the word about our school as well as possibly raise some money for the PTA.
  39. Hospitality Committee: Teacher and Staff Appreciation week is coming up in May; a Sign-Up Genius will be forthcoming.
  40. Vote on the Nominating Committee to bring candidates forward for the 2018-2019 PTA board: Ann-Alyssa Hill, Cathy Durrette and Anne Chamblin.
  41. Emily Cuison moved to accept the slate of nominees for the Nominating Committee.
  42. Joy Rogers seconded the motion.
  43. Motion passed by voice vote.
  44. The meeting was adjourned at 6:56pm. The next meeting will be Tuesday, April 10th at 6:00pm.