The meeting began at 9:40 am, following the Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast.  Those in attendance were: Nancy Chase, Lisa Muetterties, Karen Walczak, Kim Malek, Kim Drennan, Marcia Lavie, Jennifer Hibben, Paula Plomondon, Mindy Morris, Carol Holloway, Kristi Stucz, Shelly Leonard, Susan Sidrow, Kim Finnin, Gary Hein, Dodi Elkins, Shann Fields, Lynn Lindeman.

Welcome:  Kim Drennan
•    Special thanks to Le Peep, Starbucks and the PTO for providing food and drinks for the Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast!

Treasurer’s Report:  Susan Sidrow
•    Susan distributed a current budget report and balance sheet.  The LPS Foundation Gift Basket is being funded.  Gifts to School (GTS) receipts continue to be turned in.
•    The proposed budget for the 2009-2010 school year is ready for approval.  Kim Malek made a motion to approve; Karen Walczak seconded the motion.  Motion carried.

Secretary’s Report:  Lynn Lindeman
•    The minutes from March 19, 2009 were reviewed and approved.

VIPS Report:  Shelly Leonard
•    School Directory - Shelly (and Holly) will do next year’s directory via PTO Manager.
•    Committee Chairmen:  Shann Fields volunteered to chair Honor Roll and magazine sales (needs a co-chair).  Joni Lieb will chair the student store. Kim Finnin will chair the Marketing committee, which includes running ads in the Falcon Flier.  The 6th grade party will (possibly) be chaired by Corrina Tipton.  A date for the party has been set.  Lisa Sabie (sp?) stepped in to chair this year’s Falcon Flash.

Teacher Recognition:  Jodi Elkins
•    “Pat on the Back” – This program involves teachers giving recognition to other teachers via carnations and written comments that are printed and distributed.   Jodi asked for a donation commitment from the PTO to sponsor a $15 gift card each month, which will be given to a teacher being recognized.  She needs 4 months ($60) for this school year and $15 per month for next year.  Kim Finnin was able to donate a $20 Starbucks card that was left over from the gift basket.  The Staff Appreciation Fund can cover the $15 gift card each month for next year.

PTO Staff Liaison:  Mindy Morris
•    The counselors are working on a survey that would take a random population sample of students (mostly 8th grade, some 7th grade).  They would complete a computer survey of questions related to bullying.  The survey will take place at the end of this year or beginning of next year.   The idea came from a conference that Mindy attended that was paid for by the PTO.  They are currently looking at what the next step would be, i.e. working with kids to give them tools to resolve issues, etc. 
•    The staff is also working on registration for next year.

Principal’s Report:  Gary Hein
•    Euclid 50th Anniversary – Gary would like to plan a celebration for next fall and wondered if the PTO would be interested in being involved in the planning.  Ideas were mentioned for having an evening or a Saturday event, having an open house, advertising in the Your Hub section of the newspaper, printing a brochure, involving music groups, using Facebook, highlighting our programs (GTS items, Blue Ribbon), involving the WEB leaders, etc.  The PTO will look for a chair and will work on identifying PTO’s involvement.
•    NetBooks – This year GTS covered the purchase of 2 netbooks (small portable laptop computers with internet access) @ $350 each.  The District has bought about 800 for the 5th graders at 5 elementary schools, for use in the language arts classes.  The District is proposing a purchase of one set of 30 netbooks per language arts teacher for all 6th grade classes.  Their presentation to the budget committee identified funds still available from a 2005 technology bond.  The purchase would mean that all 5th, 6th and 9th grades language arts classes for all schools would have netbooks (approx 500,000 total).  Implementation is planned for this August.  In June, staff development will cover usage of netbooks.
•    Wiki – Gary discussed Wiki, which is a web space for education, and how teachers are using it to have students write comments on specific topics.  It is interactive, is teacher directed and has restricted access.  Teachers review contents before posting.

PTO Business:
•    Falcon Flash – Plans are underway and volunteers are getting donations for the event.
•    8th Grade Celebration – Meg Woods is coordinating the event.
•    8th Grade Party – Robin Ross, chairman, is working on organizing the party.
•    2009-2010 PTO Executive Board – Currently, the nominees are Kim Drennan for President, Kim Malek for Treasurer and Shelly Leonard for VIPS.  Open positions are Vice President and Secretary.  Voting will take place at the May meeting.

President’s Report:  Kim Drennan
•    Two elementary schools are in the final stages of closing.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:00 am.

 

The meeting began at 9:30 am.  Those in attendance were: Shelly Leonard, Dolores Ward, Susan Sidrow, Kim Malek, Gary Hein, Kim Drennan, Lynn Lindeman, Kim Finnin, Karen Walczak.

Welcome:  Kim Drennan

VIPS Report:  Shelly Leonard
•    Committee Chairmen:  Shelly sent an email to committee chairmen from this year to determine interest in serving next year; only 2 followed up.  She will call the current committee chairmen to confirm.
•    Committee Notebooks:  Kim, Nancy and Shelly met this morning to work on the committee notebooks.
•    Per Gary, we need someone to get the 6th grade party set up for next year (i.e. need to book Skate City).
•    For the month of February, we had 185 more volunteer hours than last February.  This was due in part to volunteers for the 6th grade field trip.

Secretary’s Report:  Lynn Lindeman
•    The minutes from February 19, 2009 were reviewed and approved.

PTO Staff Liaison:  Mindy Morris
•    Mindy was unable to attend today.  She is working on CSAP make-ups.

Treasurer’s Report:  Susan Sidrow
•    Susan distributed a current budget report and balance sheet.  The all school party revenue covered its expenses, due to great attendance. 
•    Gifts to School listing was distributed with current disbursement figures.
•    Susan presented the proposed budget for 2009-2010.  The budget was increased for the Honor Roll Reception, due to increased attendance.  Several other items were adjusted up or down to reflect projected expenses.  We will vote on the budget at next month’s meeting.

Principal’s Report:  Gary Hein
•    The District is working with us on the purchase of the light board.  The vendor with the lowest bid was approached.  They offered a system with mobile lights and a controller, which allows it to be used outside of the stage area.  Installation of the electrical will begin in April.  The base components are being purchased now ($20,000).  The system is expandable.
•    CSAP testing is complete!  Students seem more engaged this year. 
•    6th grade musical is coming up.
•    Optional Enrollment is still going on, and is up from previous years.
•    Staffing for next year is being worked out and was presented at the last accountability meeting.  6th grade will have 4 cores with 2/2/2/3 teachers.  7th grade will have 3 cores with 3/3/2 teachers.  8th grade will have 2 cores with 4 teachers each.  Staffing is being reduced by 2.4 FTE, with 2 teachers retiring.  French class is tentative for next year, and will only be offered if at least 20 students sign up.

PTO Business:
•    All School Party – Chairmen Deb Mahlmeister and Jamie DeBartolomeis did a great job!
•    LPS Foundation Basket – Kim Finnin will use the $75 budgeted for the purchase of basket items.  Donated items for the basket were few.
•    8th Grade Party – Robin Ross, chairman.  Shelly will provide Robin with the committee notebook and a list of volunteers.
•    Playground Committee – Since there is no funding for the project, and nothing budgeted, it was suggested that the project be back-burnered until funding or a grant can be obtained.
•    Nominating Committee (for PTO Board) – Nominees will be presented at the April PTO meeting.  Currently, the nominees are Kim Drennan for President, Kim Malek for Treasurer, Shelly Leonard for VIPS.  Open positions are Vice President and Secretary.  Open chair positions include: Book Fair, Marketing/Community Publicity, Staff Luncheon, Magazine Sales (need co-chair), Directory (Shelly is willing to do it on PTO Manager), Staff Appreciation, 7th Grade Party and Circle of Concern.

President’s Report:  Kim Drennan
•    Last PTO president’s meeting was pretty quiet, dealing mostly with budget issues.  Gary talked about the rescission of the budget.  The state took $533,000 back from LPS from the current year’s budget.  Two thirds came from the general operating budget and 1/3 came from the schools.  The reduction was the equivalent of $10 per student.  That came to roughly $7,000 for Euclid, which was paid for from reserves.  The budget for next year is volatile.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 am.