Shipley’s Choice Elementary School PTA
Board of Director’s Meeting Minutes
January 8, 2013
PRESENT: Melinda Talcovitz, Kathy McCollum, Pam Elser, Anne Reiners, Rocco Ferretti, Ann Languell, Nicole Meleney, Meredith Gray, Lara Buettner, Justine Handwerger, Jessica Fleming, Holly Willis, Lisa Seebold, Coleen Byerly, Andrew Livingston, Maria Putzi, Anastassia Vangraefschepe, Carolyn Campion, Sharon Cole, Jennifer Bonk, Mary Atlas-Terry, Melanie Nagel, Melissa Jimeno, Sandy Matthews, Whitney Murphy, Lauren Symmes, Barbara Brandeen, Susan Hagopian, Pam Johnson.
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by President, Kathy McCollum at 7:00 p.m. at Shipley’s Choice Elementary School. Proper notice was given to all board members. A quorum was present.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: No proposed corrections for the SCES Board of Directors Meeting Minutes for November 13, 2012. Motion to approve made by Meredith Gray, Second Coleen Byerly .
PRESIDENT’S REPORT: Kathy McCollum
*Thank You to Pam and Melinda for going to training in November. PTA was required to send two representatives, one being the Treasurer.
*Information from AACP-PTA Night in Annapolis is First Budget hearing tonight at the same time as our meeting.
*PTA Awards and Recognition Dinner in April-Will post if anyone wants to attend or nominating, teachers, staff support, staff membership
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT: Rocco Ferretti
* Thank you for all of the support, December busy, 4 field trips, gingerbread houses, 2 cultural arts programs, breakfast, Christmas tree sales
*School Security-Thanks for parent cooperation on last day before the holidays as know that parents wanted to come in before the holiday.
Every summer principals assigned to go to help conference, trained on techniques and strategies on maintaining safe and secure environment. Crisis intervention and prevention plan, write what would do in even of evacuating building. Can get keys to pool house, church down the street is able to be used, phone numbers for different emergencies, hot water boiler, gas leak, earthquake, tornado alerts, electrical power loss.
Prevention precautions, crisis intervention plan, updated yearly approved by Board of Ed, alternate sites to relocate to, teachers advised to keep cell phones on them at all times in case have to call after leaving, all doors locked every day (staff met and discussed) music room, computer lab and gym don’t have own bathrooms so not locked.
Kids go to nurse, nurse will call back to the class and tell coming back, students assigned to let others in doors if need be, teachers have to keep keys and identification on them at all times, all teachers have a flashlight for loss of power, every teacher has updated class list to grab as evacuating if needed, all staff members has a role to play, Mrs. West grabs portable phones, gets outside and calls first responders, Mrs. Storke grabs emergency cards, Nurses grabs health protocol and health bags.
At least five times a year have a table top drill, Board of Ed gives scenario and asks how to solve it all. How would handle a situation if someone comes in to shoot, have a code word to say on pa system, teachers know on lock down, kids ushered to least visible place in classroom to someone walking by. Need to call 911 and how to contact and greet first responders, whose role is that and where to greet them.
One fire drill every sixty days, two within first two weeks of school, four school bus evacuation drills each year, at least one whole school emergency drill a year (emergency practice in case there is a tornado)
All visitors should have a visitor badge except for on special days, special friends, etc. Teachers should wear badges all time. Enter building only at front where office is and not by other doors, even at end of the day when kids forget things.
Cameras were 90 thousand to put them up, only record what happens, don’t prevent it. Keyless entry system, swipe card for teachers to get in and door locks, Shipleys will have it no later than this summer, hoping to get it for classroom doors as well.
Window panel on gym door that leads outside, Kids Club people have to come in through that door and exit through that door, it will be locked and have a doorbell for Miss Ruby to see who is there.
Metal detectors-very expensive to have, doesn’t make it safe once there is a breech.
Guards at all schools, we had a DARE officer at the school, but not now.
Alternate exits, two doors in each classroom, windows don’t open, years ago there were gangs at shipleys that shot out all windows, so when replaced bolted windows down, have fire marshal coming out to check on the windows. Question was asked if that wasn’t already a fire hazard. This is Mr. Ferretti’s question also.
Might need PTA help to say we need to take a look at this, are the exits safe exits and two classes going out at the same time not just one.
If pets are on school grounds, it is not safe to chase them down, so animal control will be called immediately.
Overly eager helpers don’t always help. Aggressive visitors and custody issues can cause fear and have officers out for visibility. Rumors and making sure things are accurate before reacting, this can cause more problems in the long run.
Got to give us the first trust before calling the school, lines need to be open for people that need to get in touch with school quickly. Some emergencies are so unique you have to make the call by the seat of your pants. We are in touch with first responders within seconds.
Building assessments were done in 2004/2005- May be doing this again for the safety of the boys and girls
Need to update emergency cards and let office know if kids on medication in case something was to come up.
Cafeteria-Need a buffer as those doors are not locked and people can get there easily, maybe get a second door like many other schools have?
Five people that are teachers in charge if Mr. Ferretti is not here, Mrs. Marcine Stone, Mrs. Bracy, Mrs. Hallet, Mrs. Allen and Mrs. Apperson.
No matter what your plans are, there is a point in time where teachers might need to make a decision that is best for them and the children at that time. If need to and can get boys and girls and run to nearest house safely, get out and do it.
VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT: Anne Reiners
*Nothing to report
SECRETARY’S REPORT: Melinda Talcovitz
Please make sure to let me know when my reminders are sent out if you want anything on the sign out front as well as in the newsletter. I have been changing it twice a week most weeks.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Pam Elser
*Income to date-$20,065.08
*Expense to Date-$18,523.38
*Holiday Tree Profit-$378
*Holiday Shop Profit-$557.34
*Fundraising has been phenomenal, Membership/Patron Drive is $700 over budget, Target is $400 over budget, Restaurants already $500 over budget and Franklin Toys is $200 over budget. Box tops is $1,180.60 which is over ½ to their goal.
Lauren will write up things for teachers and let them know.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
* Receipts/Fundraisers- School got a $100 Franklin Toys gift card that went to special needs family to help with Christmas, over $100 for Thanksgiving break at Ledos and Bjs, $215 for the year.
*Room Parents: Valentine’s Day-Celebrations will be from 2:40 to 3:10, funds were collected at beginning of year. Three people plus the room parent. Yearbook picture people for parties, could be separate than the three helpers? Will discuss with Mr. Ferretti and let Room Parents and Yearbook know.
*Book Fair-A month earlier than in prior years, set up on 4th, open sales on the 7th, storyteller evening of 7th. Last year was very successful, about 10 thousand scholastic dollars, most used at this time. Grandparents can come in and take their grandchild through and purchase books. Teachers might act out a book as a staff. Miss Nelson is missing if enough people signed up.
*Yearbook-Working on layout, need more pictures, need more help with layout, sales week after the Bookfair, online sales two weeks and will need help with envelopes and things like that. Jessica wondered if she should just do online. Feeling was that people will find you if they need to write a check. Brainstorm between now and next meeting about payment options. Sales start the 11th. Check with Vicki about whether or not the check can be made out to Classic. Class pictures will not themed this year and will be April 18th. The Fifth grade picture outside instead of inside, classic doing it that day as well.
*Technology Trot-May 5th is Tech Trot. Planning has already started. Looking at a few new things, but overall will use the same format.
*Reflections-53 entries this year, presentation at the Board 17 kids, late February early March
NEW BUSINESS
*Nominating Committee and Committee Chairs 2013-2014- Would like to have nominating committee formed in March and ready to go. Please let us know if you are interested in any of the positions, please let us know. Kathy will draft email to outline what is needed as well.
*Future Meeting Presentation Topics-Any ideas for presentations please let us know. Jessica Bracey, local psychologist can speak about executive functioning of students, last day in February.
OLD BUSINESS
None
*Motion to adjourn was made Melanie Nagel, Second by Lara Buettner
*Meeting was adjourned at 8:13PM.
*Next meeting Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Melinda Talcovitz, Secretary