DES PTA Minutes
Tuesday April 8, 2014
Attended by 16 people in person, 2 via web
The meeting was called to order at 7:06pm by President Rachel Gross
President Rachel Gross – Opening Remarks
Elections are tonight. Thank you to Loren Carson and Becca Gattoni for co-chairing our Election Committee.
Recording Secretary Carrie Hester
A motion was made to approve the March 2014 minutes. The minutes were approved.
Administration Report (Presented by Rachel Gross)
Ecart Testing is complete and SOLs will begin mid-May. There was a Washington Post article about changes the General
Assembly made to SOLs.
DES enrollment at 764
Five educators are currently at the National Council of Math Teachers and they will make a presentation about what
they learned at a future PTA meeting.
Thanks to Michael Stewart and the entire GRACE Arts team for the wonderful mural in the front of the school.
Global language program will be coming to DES in the fall. The May PTA meeting will feature a presentation on this
program.
Main office is closed for Spring Break, but you can reach Mrs. Manoatl by email if needed.
Elections for the 2014-2015 PTA Board
Election Committee Co-Chair Loren Carson led the election. Since there is only one nominee per position, elections can
occur by voice vote. All nominees were elected via voice vote. Congratulations to Jack Reda, President, Carrie Hester,
1st Vice President, Shareem Kilkenny, 2nd Vice President, Nancy Czekanski, Recording Secretary, Kelley Smith,
Corresponding Secretary and Irina Shestakova, Treasurer.
Teacher Liaison Lisa Comeau
Nothing to report.
1st VP Lissa Ryan Report on Open Committee Positions
There are a lot of open Committee positions. Some are ones that must be filled, and others are optional
 Yearbook Committee – take photos throughout the year and put together the Yearbook with Lifetouch
 Newsletter Editor – put together the layout for the monthly newletter
 Fall Fundraiser – more information to follow
 Make it and Take It – need a co-chair
 Book It Reading Program – Pizza Hut program where students receive coupons for reading
 Kindergarten Carnival – takes place in the beginning of the year
 Screen Free Week
 Room Parent Liaison/Teacher Appreciation Week
 Glow Necklace – need a rising 5th grade parent to coordinate.
Fundraiser 2014 – 2015 Report – Lissa Ryan
A Survey Monkey will be coming out soon requesting opinions. The PTA Board narrowed down the choices to the
following:
 a Fun Run similar to Boosterthon. Boosterthon was a success, but the percentage the company took was too
high. We can hire a vendor to assist with collecting money and creating student webpages and they will take a
much small percentage of the earnings. We would need a large number of parent volunteers to make this work.
 Bookathon – would also use a vendor to help make fundraising pages for students.
 Sponsorships from local businesses and they would be able to advertise.
 Catalog fundraiser (gift wrap or something similar)
Teacher Appreciation Week – Nikci Halterman-Mitchell and Carrie Hester, Co-chairs
Teacher Appreciation Week is coming up. We have a lot of fun activities planned and need your help. A Sign Up Genius
is being sent out with volunteer opportunities, including Flower Day and covering recess for the teachers on Friday, May
9th. We also would like for each teacher to bring home a casserole, so we need a lot of volunteers to help with that.
Corresponding Secretary Kelley Smith
Nothing to report.
Treasurer Irina Shestakova
Nothing to report
Old Business
Nothing to report
New Business
Thursday night is Sprit Night at Firehouse Subs from 4-8pm. Chuck E. Cheese was successful.
Volunteers needed to help with Spring Picture Day on 4/30. $25 off pictures if you work a half day and $50 off if you
work a full day. Contact Rachel Gross for more information.
Thank you to the two remote viewers.
Meeting adjourned at 7:41. Thank you for attending and participating!
Minutes submitted by Carrie Hester, Recording Secretary