General Meeting
June 10, 2015, 9 a.m.
Meeting Agenda
Meeting comes to order: 9:05 a.m.
Approval of May Minutes
President’s Report (Nicole Dorrell and Jamie Sowlakis:
ps11ptapresident@gmail.com)
NY Public Library Update. Representative was supposed to be here to
make comments, but did not appear. Their basic message was: Please
use the public library
Spring Gala On-Line Auction. (Larry Mills)
Thanks to everyone who worked on the gala and auction. We did very
well with this year and we’re proud of the event and what we raised.
*Numbers available upon request.
PTA Elections
Uncontested election.
Co-presidents: Colby Trane, Alexandra Levi
Fundraising: Sienam Lulla
Co-community events: Liz Danneels and Ivana Tagliamonte
Community Membership: Still open (position will be filled in Fall)
Co-Community Programs: Corinne Pascariu (No co at moment)
Co-Treasurers: Laura Riccardo and Michael Goldsman
Co-Assistant Treasurers: Catherine Doyle and Aili Areng
Communications: Michael Walsh and Sonal Patel
Co-Recording Secretaries: Paul Raeburn and Elizabeth DeVitaRaeburn
*In the case of an uncontested election, the nominations are signed off
on by a member of the nominating committee and the principal certifies
that the process worked according to the PTA bylaws. This election
followed this process.
SLT Elections
Nominees: Kristin Barnes Sewell, Robin Broschi, Elaine Williams, Mary
Ellen, Laura McCarthy. All present gave a brief speech. Voting took place
by ballot.
Winners: Kristin Barnes Sewell and Robin Broschi. Alternates: Laura
McCarthy and Elaine Williams.
Principal’s Report (Bob Bender)
Showcase School. PS11 has been chosen as one of a handful of
“showcase” schools that will serve as a model for other schools.
New teachers. We have hired some new teachers. Possibly looking for a
kindergarten and 4th grade teacher.
Building classes. We are in the middle of building classes for next year.
During this process we look at each kid and the kids who will be
combined together. It is a difficult and long process. Our policy is that
once a child is placed in a classroom we never move them unless they
change programs.
G&T Registration. We are finishing G&T registration. Happy to report
that for the first time, all placements for second grade G&T went to
children currently enrolled in PS11.
Pre-k. Invites went out today.
Book Clubs Met Today. Parent clubs and teachers met to talk about
philosophy of grit gained from book clubs. It was great, we’re going to
continue next year.
Parent Coordinator’s Report (Stephen McGill)
DOE Records/Child Test Scores. Aris is gone. The DOE rolled out a
new system that was supposed to start June 8th. We just found out how
it is going to work. The DOE is requiring any one who wants access to
their child’s records and test scores to come to school with a drivers
license or state ID to get a password that they can then use to enter the
portal for access to scores, etc. Emails will go out shortly with a
schedule of how parents can come in to get their password. We will try
to do it class by class early in the morning, between 8 and 8:50. Please
be patient (and bring your coffee).
Lost and Found. Thanks to those that have been labeling children’s
clothing. Things are working well this year. Please keep it up next year.
On Monday June 15th, all the lost and found items will be out in front of
the building for you to go through one last time. After that, all items will
be donated.
SLT Report (Kristin Barnes Sewell)
Potluck. It will be on June 19th from 6-7:30 p.m. Please bring a dish to
share that will feed eight people. No desserts, please.
Treasurer’s Report (Laura Riccardo & Todd Parmett; Michael
Goldsman & Alli Areng: ps11treasurerchelsea@gmail.com)
2014/1015 Financials: 2015 Capital Expenditure Vote: 2015/2016
Budget Vote
*A motion is raised to spend some of the money raised by the PTA to
bring in new teachers to reduce class size in Kindergarten and first and
second grade, which will hopefully mean 23 or fewer kids in those
classrooms. It will not help class size in G&T classrooms. The DOE
regularly makes offers to fill those classes to capacity. Proposed way of
solving class size in classrooms in upper grades and G&T classes with
larger class size is to hire “push in” certified teachers who can “push in”
to overcrowded classrooms periodically and help. *A vote is taken.
Motion is passed.
*Budget for next year. PTA body votes unanimously to approve next
year’s proposed budget.
*Numbers available upon request.
Fundraising Report (Sarah Frankfurt and Yasmine Mahdavi:
ps11annualfund@gmail.com)
No report.
Community Programs Report (Corinne Pascariu and Heather
Zicko: ps11ptaprograms@gmail.com)
No report.
Community Events Report (Alexandra Levi and Liz Willette
Danneels: ps11ptaevents@gmail.com)
No report.
Community Membership Report (Rachel Glube and Colby Trane:
ps11volunteers@gmail.com)
Ice Cream Social. June 22nd. We’d love more volunteers.
5th grade moving on ceremony. Thursday June 18th. We need helpers
between 9 and 12:30 to help set up and clean up.
Book Fair. Best book fair yet—the event at the school and online.
*Numbers available upon request
Communication Report (Sonal Patel and Ivana Tagliamonte:
ptaps11@gmail.com)
Final notes:
Auction items. If you bid on something, please pick up any items you
won at the auction. Pick up is at the back of the auditorium, next to the
lost and found.
Antonio Prieto Salon. This salon (127 West 20th Street) has offered
PS11 benefit days on June 9th, 10th, and 11th. All services 50% off, and
100% of proceeds go to PS11. Mention promotion code: PS11.
Community town hall safety meeting (Serena Mueller, assistant
principal)
Measures put in place to protect students:
-ID Cards.
-Adults at a post at every entrance, as well as in the cafeteria and in the
auditorium.
-Hallway protocols for students
-Stairway protocols
-All doors in the building are keyed and locked. Teachers have keys.
-Doors on 20th street are kept locked and are alarmed. Keys are
necessary for access.
-Once a month meetings
-Evacuation sites if we do need to evacuate the building. We have sites
nearby and further away. We don’t tell you the sites until we have to
activate them.
-Trained staff to use defibrillator
-15 certified in CPR
Adjournment: 10:41 a.m.