Prettyboy Elementary PTA Meeting:
October 20, 2015
Meeting Minutes
Meeting Attendees
LeeAnne Barnett
Nikki Norris
Deborah Karpowicz
Laurie Collacchi
Jennifer Roebuck
Sandi Hart
Erin Bichell
Kathy Patti
Lee Reithlingshoefer
Kim Van Dorpe
Chris Turner
Becky Forsythe
Karen Devaney
Candyce Matthews
Kristen Kruger
Meeting called to order at 7:02 pm. Meeting adjourned at 8:55 pm.
August 18th meeting minutes were approved.
September 29th meeting minutes were approved
Open Items and Updates
Administration's Update:
 (Mrs. Norris) Thank you for Race for Education. Thank you to Kathy Patti.
 We are going to buy a TV Studio with the funds from Race for Education from last year. It
is a mobile cart that can move from classroom to classroom. Morning announcements will
be done from this.
 We are Phase 2 of the installation of the short throw projectors through the county –
should have them by the end of the school year (May 2016).
 School sign – still working on installation. It will not be wireless.
 Working on “I can” statements with students
 Working on Green School application again. There is a meadow behind the lower field.
Discussions about making the meadow an outside learning area. Every grade has to
participate in a “green” activity for the school application.
 November 12th – a few 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students have been chosen to perform. We
will have approximately 20 principals from around the area here at PBE to walk and
learn.
Teacher Representative Report: (Mrs. Collacchi) With the learner centered learning, you have
seating options with the space. The children are enjoying choosing where they get to work. The
children are enjoying working with the tablets provided.
President's Update:
- First of all, thank you to all of our amazing team members. We are an amazing
organization because of each one of you and your contributions. I am in awe of everyone
and how generous you all are with your time, energy, ideas and so much more.
-
-
-
-
I’d like to revisit the idea of a June budget meeting. Trying to squeeze in the budget and
the regular back to school agenda in August resulted in an incredibly long meeting.
Thoughts? Decided that we will have a June meeting.
Survey- We are creating a survey to give to parents to elicit feedback about several
categories, as well as overall feelings. We are looking for a small incentive to give to
students if their families complete the survey. (See rough draft)
Directory: We are finishing up the coupon page and have included a few outside vendors
as well. Question: Should we copy as many as we have in the past and encourage more
members to join? Should we sell the book to non-members if interested? (Erin Felter)
We have redeemed TerraCycle points for over $530
Just a reminder, a committee member should only be going into a folder specifically for
his/her committee. No exceptions.
Also, all paper flyers being sent home should be approved by me and Mrs. Norris prior to
being sent to our copy coordinator. Thanks for your help with this.
Buckets brought in from Home Depot (donated) for students to take outside for outside
learning.
5th grade has snack time because they have the last lunch time period. There are some
students that can not afford to bring in a snack every day. Our Neighbors Foundation
gave a gift card to Mrs. Pappas to assist with this. PTA is going to help with this for the
remainder of the year. Will come out of Health & Wellness Budget line item.
Treasurer's Update:
Race for Education to date has brought in $28,000.
Need to start looking for a new Treasurer for next year 2016-2017 school year.
Committee Reports:
• President – No report
•
Vice President: Use of Facilities submitted and approved for October and November PTA
meetings, and Pumpkin Palooza. I will submit applications for the remaining PTA
meetings for the school year in the coming weeks. As you know dates when we will be
having a PTA-sponsored event, please let me know so I can submit the forms and have
approvals timely.
•
Treasurer – no report
•
Corresponding Secretary – no report
•
Bylaws – no report
•
Care Committee – (Candace Matthews) Wanted to know at what point do we send a card,
flowers or gift card to a teacher. Yes to hospitalization; no to out patient procedure. The
teachers/school has there own “Care Committee”. They will consult with Candace on
future medical issues so that the same gifts are given to the same person.
•
Copy Co-Coordinator - No report
•
Cultural Events – No report
•
Delegate to Balt. Co. PTA - No report
•
Donate Direct -- No report
•
Enrichment – no report
•
Fundraising – (Kathy Patti) $2,800 came in from the sales of “Kids Stuff” coupon books.
$28,375 came in for Race for Education and we still have about 50 envelopes with money to
open. Kristen Kruger who is new to the area and has one child at PBE is taking over Race
for Education & Pumpkin Palooza next year.
•
Green Hands – no report
•
Health & Wellness – Kicked off year with an "unexpected" blood drive in September. Working
towards improved communication with Red Cross new rep. 100 Mile Club is in full swing
with 110 after school participants and more who have joined and are working on their miles
independently! Looking towards a January fitness night (replacing fall fitness). Any input
strongly encouraged!
•
Hospitality Chair – no report
•
Legislative - No report
•
Membership – (Chris Turner) A reminder notice is going to go out to remind parents to join
PTA in order to receive a School Directory. School Directory to come out soon.
•
Nominating – no report
•
Plant Sale – no report
•
Pumpkin Palooza – no report
•
Rec Council Liaison - No report
•
Reflections Program – no report
•
Scholarship – (Erin Bichell) Is in contact with HHS about making sure the students are aware
that there is a PBE scholarship.
•
School Directory – No report
•
School Spirit – (Lee Reithlingshoefer) – t-shirt design for new faculty, new students & all bus
drivers.
•
Spirit Wear - Spiritwear order forms are on there way! I will run the sale from October 26 November 6.
•
Safety – no report
•
School Supplies - No update
•
Spring Festival – no report
•
Teacher Appreciation – no report
•
Teacher Representatives – no report
•
Technology – no report
•
Volunteer Coordinator - No report.
New Action Items
 Create/Review goals for 2015/2016:
1. Complement the curriculum
2. Partner with teachers and staff to enhance the learning environment
3. Focus on healthy and safe lifestyles for students, families and the
environment.
4. Maintain a high level of communication with in our school community
through the use of available technological resources.



Review audit
Discussion of how we want to use funds from RFE.
Complete survey for safety committee.
Upcoming Dates
 Pumpkin Palooza – October 25th from 1-3pm
 School closes 3 hours early on Friday, October 30th
 School closed for students November 13th (conferences)
 Next PTA meeting November 17th
 American Education Week, November 16-20th
- Next PTA meeting is November 17th at 7:00pm.