Stanley School PTO Board Meeting
Meeting Minutes
September 11, 2013
Present:
Next meeting:
I.
33 attendees
October 9, 2013, 8:30 AM
Introduction: Camay Pascucci

All attending Board members introduced themselves to the group
Co-Presidents:
Camay Pascucci
Anne Quagrello
VP Community Relations:
Erin Perault
Co-VP Fundraising:
Wendy Fasciano
Ann Macey
Sarah Westwood
Co-VP Special Events:
Ashley Burse
Nicole Nichols
Co-VP Cultural Arts:
Rachel Dicker
Emily Wagner
Secretary:
Communication Chair
Kristen Riddell
Recording Secretary
Becky White
Co-Treasurers:
Seth Caplan
Kerry Ward

Overview of PTO meetings, scheduling (Wednesday mornings ONLY and every third
meeting held in the evening, typical structure of a meeting)
II. Principal Report: Mr. Daniels
o
o
PTO meetings on Wednesday mornings only for consideration of music teacher’s
space/smart board
Thank you’s
o
o
o
o
o



Teacher Luncheon
Kindergarten Popsicle Party
Library volunteers and Terri Morgen already working!
Office help for our new secretary Dawn Thompson who has been working
“around the clock” to step into Mrs. Caron’s large shoes
Smooth Opening (so far)
o Building clean and ready for students
o Special needs students and teachers are adjusting to new inclusion classrooms
o K students are settling in well, no major adjustment issues, teachers are well
prepared
o Grade 1 settling into routines, learning independence which will facilitate small
student work groups
o Grade 2 flexible math groups are being reviewed and Foundations Teaching is
being piloted by Mrs. Stephens
o Grade 3 is beginning the year with 20 days of independent reading
lessons/reading is thinking – choosing correct books, abandoning the wrong
books, etc
 2 new teachers adjusting well
o Grade 4 has started out with some exciting units in light bulbs and geography
 Still interviewing to fill Mrs. Cresta’s classroom, hope to have new
teacher in the classroom by Sept 20
o Mrs. Dilisio, the new Art Teacher seems great and upbeat with the students
Staff meeting discussed methods of active communication – talking in circle groups, eye
contact
All teachers have been given chimes for calling attention to students to “stop, look and
listen” – consistent practice in all classrooms
MCAS results still embargoed (under review by administration) but overall school has
made improvements and has been raised to a Level 1 school.
o All grade growth report shows 56 median growth in ELA. A years growth in a
years time = 50
o Full results to be released soon, including individual scores, etc.
III. School Building Committee: Stephanie Greenfield

Town is in process to build/rehabilitate an elementary school within State of MA
parameters to get funding from the State towards our new school
o A feasibility study has been performed and 9 options have been given to the School
Building Committee: a few options below
o Rehab Machon (not viable for State $$)
o Rehab Hadley (not viable for State $$)
o Rehab Stanley (not viable for State $$)
o Addition to Stanley
o New 2 story school on Stanley field
o New 4 story school on Stanley field
o New 4 story school on Middle School bowl/field
 2 options in bold above are the most viable – new school to
house all students grades 1-4 for entire town (635 students),
Pre-K and K to be housed at Clark
o
o
o
o
o
The committee is now holding 3 town forums to share information and hear
opinions/concerns of the town residents
On 9/24 the committee with vote and make their recommendation to the State of MA,
which will then needs to be approved by the State
Then the vote will come back to Swampscott Town Meeting for final approval
o If you are interested in being on Town Meeting its simple to get nomination
papers at Town Hall, commitment for Town Meeting is only once a year
(excluding special meetings)
Preliminary estimates for cost - $39 million total then reduced to $23 million with
State aid – if we don’t work with State, then the town pays entire bill
If approved, estimated timetable - ground will be broken July 2014 and completed
April 2016
IV. Overview of the Year


Programs
o Library: Terri Morgen
 Volunteer for your child’s classroom library visits
 Volunteer to help maintain the library
 Book fair and book swaps both help our library gain new books
o ASP: Amy O’Connor
 Email is main form of communication for After School Program so make
sure they are update
 Classes include chess, legos, sports, crafts, ipads, etc
 Remember to sign up quickly since favorites fill up
 Parents who would like to teach and get paid for an ASP contact Amy
o Cultural Arts: Rachel Dicker/Emily Wagner
 Enrichment programs include Art Quest, Yoga, Hip Hop, Author visit,
poetry, Museum of Science, tide pooling, drumming and puppetry
 Schedule of events will be release upon finalization
 Feedback welcomed for next years program planning
o Non-Fiction Reading Program: Rebecca Metaxatos/Michelle Stout
 Program originated at Clark School
 Easy way to work at home with student on reading comprehension
 Optional program but very popular
o Big Blue Bargains: Julie Phanuef
 All volunteer run Thrift Store on backside of Middle School – great place
to make donations of textiles and home goods and find amazing deals
 Open 2 days a week, Wed 9-11, Saturday 9-1
 Each school provides volunteers (every 5th week) to run shop, each
school shares profits based on hours volunteered – last year we earned
$4000 for Stanley School PTO
 Next Stanley Weeks – Oct 16 and 19 then again Nov 20 and 23
 Stanley needs volunteers, 2 hour slots, so to sign up use Sign Up Genius
today!!
Events
o Holiday Fair: Ashley Burse/Kathleen Lewis/Nicole Nichols
 Friday December 13, 2013 (first planning meeting Oct 18 at Panera)
Kicks off with Raffle Baskets (themed gift baskets) – email for donations
will be coming out in October. Students/parents can purchase raffle
tickets starting in Nov and the drawing occurs at the end of the Fair
 The Fair had over 100 volunteers last year who helped run the Games,
crafts and store that is the Holiday Fair
Fun Field Day: Camay Pascucci on behalf of Amy Palmer/KC Butts
 Date has been changed to Friday, May 30, 2014
 Field games, music, snacks
Book Fairs: Rachel Dicker/Nicole Nichols
 November 4 and 5, 2013
 Scholastic Books is vendor
 Online purchases available
 Teacher wish list books for purchase
 Our library/classrooms gets donated books based on level of purchases
during Book Fair

o
o
V. Budget: Kerry Ward & Seth Caplan


Operating Budget 2013-2014 available
Although it looks like we begin the year at a deficit, we will end up spending what we
make – PLEASE SEND IN YOUR PTO dues checks
VI. Fundraising: Sarah Westwood, Wendy Fasciano, Ann Macey


UNO dough raisers, Orange Leaf, Swizzles
Update your Shop n Stop A+ Rewards cards (and everyone else you know)!! Must be
done each year 
VII. Volunteer Opportunities


All of the programs and events listed above are great places to volunteer at Stanley
The Stanley Cook Book – new fundraising opportunity scheduled to start in January.
VIII. Important Dates and Reminders





PTO Registration Dues are due on Friday Sept 13
Don’t Forget Stop N Shop A+ rewards
9/11 Curriculum Night 6:00-7:30PM
10/1 Half Day
10/9 PTO Meeting – guest speaker: Gary Murphy, Interim Superintendent