Minutes of Meeting
Central School PTA Executive Board
Wednesday, November 14, 2012, 9am
Attendees: Cathy Bizzard, Kristin Carpenter, Mary Conway, Susan Epstein, Martha
Friedland, Angela Holton, Kim Huang, Romy Kirwin, Sam Orans, Miran Robarts, Ellen
Silver, Ms. Priore, Ms. Hindley
Special attendees: Sally Cantwell (MSF), Sue Bokert (MSF), Robin Nichinsky (BOE)
Apologies: Mary Brennan, Virginia Marsella, Kim Rubin, Krista Williams, Patty Wolff,
Ms. Dinelli, Ms. Dressler
UPDATES AND REPORTS:
Mamaroneck Schools Foundation (Sally Cantwell and Sue Bokert)
Sally Cantwell, President of the Mamaroneck Schools Foundation (MSF) and Sue
Bokert, Vice President of Grants for the MSF, gave a brief description of their work with
MSF and discussed availability of grants and how teachers can apply for them. The
current deadline for grant applications is Nov. 28, 2012. MSF has the ability to fund
$600,000 worth of grants.
Ms. Cantwell pointed out that this year there are two changes to the grant application
process:
(1)
Building principals are asked to sign off on the applications, and
(2)
All technical aspects of the applications have to go through Ed Cofino, K-12
Technology Coordinator for the District, who then provides the technology
issues for review by the school district, including Dr. Shaps. The hope is that
this will permit combining similar technology issues or otherwise creating
efficiencies with technology matters (e.g., if training is needed).
In response to a question about how Central is represented in the pool of grant
applications submitted, Ms. Cantwell and Ms. Bokert stated that all elementary schools
are equal in their submissions, especially when looked at over the years. The Grants
Committee tries to ensure equal amounts of money are granted to the schools. Due to the
difference in the composition of the elementary schools, what the teachers ask for usually
differs by school. Regarding whether the teachers in the various schools are aware of the
requests other teachers are making, Ms. Cantwell said that the MSF website lists every
grant approved in the past and each year there is an award ceremony for current grants, so
the subject matter of the grants is well publicized.
Other points made by Ms. Cantwell and Ms. Bokert:






Although the teachers write and submit the grants, MSF is happy for
parents to assist with research;
MSF can help improve facilities (e.g., providing a grant for installation of
a dance floor instead of dancing on concrete), but will not provide funding
for such things as the purchase of chairs;
MSF raises money through its Spring Benefit, a wine tasting event, the
Junior Triathlon, the antiques fair, and mailers requesting donations;
MSF currently needs volunteers;
MSF is in the office at MHS three days a week; and
More information about MSF is available on its web site,
www.mamaroneckschoolsfoundation.org
Robin Nichinsky – Central’s Liaison to the Mamaroneck School District Board of
Education
Robin Nichinsky has been a member of the Mamaroneck School District Board of
Education (BOE) for seven years and is currently in her third term. Ms. Nichinsky is the
liaison between the BOE and Central School. Ms. Nichinsky’s three daughters attended
Central School.
Ms. Nichinsky can be reached by e-mail at board@mamkschools.org, or at
rnichinsky@gmail.com or through Carol Priore.
Ms. Nichinsky provided an overview of current BOE issues:
1)
Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with teachers union: A new CBA was
just signed with the teachers union and was announced last night. Highlights of the
CBA:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
Puts a 2-year freeze on salaries – i.e., no steps, no cost of living increases, and
no longevity increases;
Extends elementary day to 3pm on Wednesdays;
Eliminates at the secondary level the 2/3 faculty approval requirement for
scheduling changes;
Adds 20 minutes per day of instructional time to the Hommocks day and 15
minutes per day at the high school level, implementation taking place over the
next one to two years; and
Eliminates for new hires the retirement recognition clause whereby upon
retirement, a teacher got up to 25% of his/her last year’s salary.
Ms. Nichinsky explained that Mamaroneck School District teacher salaries and
benefits are still competitive with other districts, even with the freeze and other
changes. Professional development, a hallmark of our district, will continue.
2
Certain changes were sought because the provisions were no longer customary or
reasonable in teacher contracts. For example, the district paid out more than $1
million in retirement recognition over the past couple of years. Most other school
districts do not have such a clause or if they do, it is for much smaller amounts,
such as $2500.
2)
Nov. 13 BOE Meeting / Class Size: A community discussion was held regarding
various issues when looking at class size. There will be an additional Board
discussion later in the year prior to the budget presentation regarding whether to
change the class size guidelines, whether they are guidelines, and related issues.
Ms. Nichinsky reminded the Central PTA Exec Board that the community’s opinion
can always be expressed to the BOE by e-mail.
3)
Dec. 4 BOE Community Engagement Meeting / “What We Value”: The topic will
be where do we see our district heading, what do we want to invest in, what we do
not. The group will break into two discussion groups. (Hommocks library
classroom, 7:30pm)
4)
Office of Civil Rights (OCR) Complaint: In response to the OCR complaint at
Central, the BOE has decided to re-examine how classes are organized. The BOE
Policy Committee has looked at the issue and is now gathering information from
teachers regarding what they think needs to be examined in terms of class
organization.
5)
Dec. 18 Systematic Program Review Mechanism / Pre-K: At this meeting, the BOE
will review the Pre-K Program, whether it should remain as is or be modified.
(MHS Tiered Classroom, 7:30pm)
6)
Jan. 8 BOE Study Session / Character Edcuation: The purpose of this meeting is to
review character education programs, e.g., CORE at Central. (Library Classroom,
7:30pm)
7)
Feb. 5 BOE Study Session / Facilities Usage: This meeting will examine facilities
use, addressing whether the district recoups its costs when groups come in and use
school facilities (e.g., Continuing Education program, fields use by sports groups,
Girl Scout troops) and whether to charge a fee or an increased fee for use of
facilities. There is a committee currently examining these issues. Ms. Nichinsky
clarified that the school district must charge a fee for the use of a facility or else it is
considered a gift, which is not permitted with taxpayer money. Also, with the new
custodial overtime pay requirements, it is important for the district to be more
vigilant about collecting fees for facilities usage. (Library Classroom, 7:30pm)
Several concerns regarding the new custodial overtime requirements were brought
to Ms. Nichinsky’s attention. For example, at Scare Fair, Central School PTA was
required to use six custodians for the entire duration of the fair, which cost the PTA
about $5460 in overtime charges (6 custodians at $70/hour, for 13 hours each). All
3
that was actually needed were two custodians at the beginning of the fair, three at
mid-day and six at break-down. Gross proceeds from the fair were about $24,000,
so custodian overtime charges will cost the PTA about 20% of proceeds. The Book
Fair co-chairs are concerned that they will face similar requirements for the evening
book fair hours. (It was clarified that as long as the evening book fair is completely
closed down with no one in the building as of 8:00pm, there will be no custodian
overtime charges.)
After hearing these concerns, Ms. Nichinsky said that how custodians are assigned
to such events as Scare Fair is a process issue, not just a fees issue, and this needs to
be addressed as part of the district’s examination of facilities use and procedures.
She strongly urged bringing these concerns to the BOE committee’s attention and
also attending the Februrary 5, 2013 meeting.
8)
Feb. 12, 2013 BOE Meeting / Transportation: Transportation is another issue that
the BOE will examine this year. Transportation costs now have to be factored into
field trip calcualations. (MHS Tiered Classroom, 7:30pm)
Update from Principal and Assistant Principal (Carol Priore and Joanne Hindley)
1)
Art Walk: As part of the administration’s ongoing efforts to re-direct parental
presence at Central School in light of the new arrival and dismissal procedures,
Carol and Joanne are pleased to announce Central’s first-ever self-portraiture show.
A color flyer will go home in backpacks discussing the expectations of artistic
expression at the different grade levels. The art walk was proposed for Tuesday
evening, November 20, just before the Thanksgiving break, but the Exec Board felt
that it did not give parents enough notice, comes at a hectic time, and might miss
some families who have already left for Thanksgiving break. The counterargument
is that the date might capture visiting grandparents. In the end, it was decided to
make the art walk the same evening as the Evening Book Fair, Wednesday,
December 5. The hope is that by having two events on the same evening, it will
increase attendance at both. It was proposed that 5th graders act as docents at the
event.
2)
Parent Visiting Morning: This will take place on Wednesday, November 21 from
9am-11am. Ms. Priore will give a short presentation from 9:00-9:20am regarding
the new Common Core education requirements and what to look for in the child’s
classroom. From 9:20-11:00, parents may go to the children’s classrooms. The
majority of the morning will be spent on math activities, showing how Common
Core math is being implemented.
3)
Planning Council: Ms. Priore reported that at the first meeting, a psychologistbased management team, following guidelines developed by former NYS Education
Commissioner Tom Sobel’s Compact For Learning group, is working to identify
and provide solutions regarding issues pertaining to strength of character and
resilience. However, there is no funding. This year, they have developed a
4
program around the book Courage. Ms. Priore has read the book to each class. The
theme of the book is to be courageous and kind and the different ways this may
look and how we can accomplish this. The Planning Council is considering
creating a Hall of Heroes, inspired by the National Liberty Museum, a suggestion
from Susan Meyers. Our hall would highlight local heroes who show courage in
both small and big ways. There will be a culminating event with parent attendance,
though what format this will take is still being planned.
4)
Cultural Arts / Artist-In-Residence: Kim McCormack has provided the budget to
Ms. Priore for the tile mosaic cultural arts program discussed at the last PTA Exec
meeting. The program would cost $7566. Currently, only $4000 of the Cultural
Arts budget is earmarked for a fine arts/visual arts residency.
Ms. Priore reports that Central art teacher Michelle Burton would prefer to do the
project well than cut back. Ms. Burton also clarified that this is a project she feels
requires the leadership and experience of Ms. McCormack and is not something
Ms. Burton could do on her own.
To meet the shortfall, Ms. Priore suggested using the Stop n Shop A+ money from
last school year, which is approximately $4000. Susan Epstein and Miran Robarts
clarified that the check from Stop n Shop is not payable to the PTA, but rather, to
Central School. Many schools in similar situations gift the money to their PTAs.
There was discussion of two main issues regarding the Stop n Shop A+ money:
a) Whether the money is accounted for in the PTA budget since it is a line item
under Consumer Fundraising, and
b) Whether the Stop n Shop money should be used for this Cultural Arts program.
Ms. Priore also pointed out that there was an $8000 donation to the school a few
years ago from a family that was departing back to their home in Europe, for use at
Ms. Priore’s discretion. A portion has already been used by the PTA but some
remains unused. Perhaps this money could be used.
There was discussion about whether there is another program that would permit
more contact between the resident artist and the students instead of Ms.
McCormack’s proposed program, which would permit Ms. McCormack to have
contact with each student only one time during art class. A comparison was made
to last year’s opera program wherein the students had two weeks’ worth of exposure
to opera in music class and in other ways, prior to the actual presentation of the
opera. It was felt that this year’s cultural arts program should be as memorable as
the opera and the star-gazing/astronomy program from a couple years ago. The
Cultural Arts program is meant to be something outside the academic curriculum.
The drumming project was rejected for this year because last year’s program took
place during the children’s music class time and the goal is to rotate through the
5
non-curricular areas in part so that no one department is being over-extended year
after year.
The Inner Resilience program at Chatsworth was raised as a possible cultural arts
program this year. Although there is strong interest in the program among Central’s
administration and the PTA Exec Board, it was rejected because it requires a huge
buy-in and also requires a great deal of teacher and parental training outside of
school hours and on Saturdays. This is something that might be pursued through an
MSF grant.
Ms. Priore said she would go back to see if Ms. McCormack can do another project
(e.g., book-making) that would either reduce the cost or permit more interaction
between Ms. McCormack and the students.
5)
Dismissal: The pick-up alternative during inclement weather is the Big Gym.
6)
Book Fair: Ms. Priore said that the location of the Book Fair will be an issue every
year now that the Pre-K program is housed at Central. It is too disruptive to the
Pre-K program not to have use of the Little Gym. The Big Gym cannot be used for
Book Fair because the older children use it for P.E. class and it is too dangerous to
have gym class going on while there are book stands set up.
For now, the Book Fair will held be in the library. Advantages are that the librarian
can be used as a resource for book selection. Also, where possible, the children’s
regular library time will be when the children go to the fair. For those whose
library time does not fall during book fair days, there will be a make-up time to
attend book fair.
It was proposed that paper or something else be used to cover up the books in the
library stacks so that the books do not get mingled together. The 5th Grade Used
Book Table may be located outside the library doors.
Approval of Minutes: A motion was made, seconded and passed to approve the minutes
of the October 17, 2012 PTA Exec meeting.
PT Council Update (Susan Epstein and Martha Friedland):
1)
Hurricane Sandy:
a)
School Closure Announcements: There were complaints that the school
closure announcements came very late in the day. The reason was that there
was hope that the schools would get power back and be able to re-open.
b)
Make-Up Days: To make up for the week of closures due to Hurricane
Sandy, the district has already used its snow days, give-back days, plus
another day. (School will remain open April 1 and May 24.) The district is
6
confident that the state legislature will waive the 180-day school year
requirement without losing federal aid. There is also the issue of teacher
contracts. Even so, there is the need for instructional time in relation to AP
classes and Regent exam requirements so days may be taken away from the
February break.
. 2) Inner Resilience: The school district’s Inner Resilience program slated for
November 1 is rescheduled to December 10 at 7-9pm at Hommocks Auditorium.
Acclaimed educator Linda Lantieri will speak. The subject is how attending to the
inner lives of children, teens and their significant adults fosters emotional balance,
builds coping skills and improves learning. The program is sponsored by the
Mamaroneck School District Parent-Teacher Council with the support of the
Chatsworth Inner Resilience Program.
3)
Citizens’ Financial Advisory Commmittee (CFAC): Dr. Shaps, on behalf of the
Mamaroneck school district, is inviting residents to participate in the CFAC, which
was formed a couple of years ago to address the fiscal issues facing the district,
such as the impacts of the property tax cap.
4)
Food Services: There have been complaints regarding nutrition and portion size
(too small) and PIN problems.
5)
Dr. Shaps’ Yours, Mine and Hours sessions: Dr. Shaps is implementing sessions to
have people come and meet the Superintendent and have discussions in a casual
setting. More information is coming in December.
Hurricane Relief
Christine Sullivan, 5th Grade Special Education teacher, lost her home and car in
Hurricane Sandy. PTA had suggested a collection or gift card drive on Ms. Sullivan’s
and others’ behalf. Teacher representatives of the Exec Board were in favor of this but
Ms. Sullivan said she did not want the PTA to do anything, at least on her behalf, because
she feels so many other people were worse off than her.
Grants Committee
Cathy Bizzard reported that she let Alex Leach know that Cathy and Patty Wolff will be
on the Grants Committee for Central. At this time, there is no activity to report.
Susan Epstein pointed out that if certain budget lines need to be revisited and voted on
again, particularly in light of the Cultural Arts shortfall, then it is possible that the Grants
line might reduced. Susan pointed out that the Grants Budget at Hommocks is $1000 and
Central’s is much higher ($7500) so it can be reduced if necessary.
7
Vice-President Updates and Reports
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
Scare Fair: The wrap-up meeting was scheduled for the week of the power outage
following Hurricane Sandy. It has been rescheduled. Exec Board therefore will
review Scare Fair at next month’s meeting.
Directory: Diana Marturet was almost ready to send the directory to the printer
when the hurricane hit. Every school fell behind as a result of the hurricane.
Central Cares / Thanksgiving Food Drive: Because the Central Cares position
could not be filled during the spring Nominating efforts, the Thanksgiving food
drive is not currently slated to take place. Romy reported that Melissa Aversa, who
had been involved in Central Cares in the past, asked Romy about a Thanksgiving
food drive, but nothing further has been pursued at this time.
Book Fair: Romy reported that the Book Fair will take place Tuesday, December 4
and Thursday, December 6, from 9am-4pm, and Wednesday, December 5, from
9am-3:30pm and 6pm-7:30pm. On November 29, there is a session for the book
fair chairs to learn the scanning program (not a regular cash register) used by the
new vendor, which will then be taught to everyone else.
Cocktail Party: On December 13 at 8pm, there will be a cocktail party at the home
of PTA Treasurer Miran Roberts for PTA Exec members and their spouses.
Recess: Mary Brennan would like recess to be put on a future agenda. It was noted
that there is a big white board of things the children can do at recess (e.g., jump
rope, art table, work with YMCA coordinator).
Treasurer’s Report (Miran Robarts)
2011-12 taxes were filed by Clinton DeVoe on November 13.
Budget Report: Balance on hand as of 10/17/12 was $17,682.28 in checking and
$20,401.21 in the PTA’s money market account.
Disbursements in the period since the last budget report (from 10/17/12 to 11/14/12) were
$18,332.85 for the Kindergarten Square Dance, $250 donation for burial expenses to the
family of Linda Mazariegos, babysitting, Constant Contact subscription, Apparel, PT
Council dues, Theater Arts, NY State PTA dues, Scare Fair 2012, and magazine
subscriptions.
Deposits from 10/17/12-11/14/12 were $28,607.69, from PTA membership dues and
donations, Scare Fair apparel receipts, Theater Arts participation fees, payments for 4th
and 5th grade planners, and Scare Fair 2012 receipts.
Balance on hand as of 11/14/12 was $26,797.13 in checking and $20,404.67 in the PTA’s
money market account.
Meeting adjourned at 2:25pm.
Respectfully submitted by Angela Holton.
Next PTA Executive meeting will take place on Wednesday, December 19, 2012.
8