Minutes for
January 9, 2006
Attendees: Allyson Downing, Frank Geier, Ellen Erdmann, Carol McQuillen, Linda Norris, Lynne Baechle, Sheila Royer, Rick Ebel, Allyson Yandow, Rosalind Saunders, Maureen Genzlinger, Gail Beck, Dale Wright, Melinda Tate, Phyllis Marcell, Connie Keetle, Deidre Riehle, Judith Barron, Anne Jenkins, Louise Gagnon, Deb Noel, Aimee Marti, Stacey Pape, Kelly Philbrick, Tom Grocki, Diana Schwaigert, David Young, Dora Sudarksy, Lori Charash, Denyse Lestrange, Cliff Deetjen, Peggy Weaver, Madeleine Nash
Co-President Allyson Yandow opened the meeting with a review and modifications to the agenda printed in the PTO newsletter.
Secretary Lynne Baechle read the minutes from the November PTO meeting for approval. Frank Geier motioned to approve the minutes, Diana Schwaigert seconded the motion. The minutes were approved as read.
PTO Bylaws
Amendments: Lynne Baechle
Secretary Lynne Baechle introduced the PTO Bylaws document and the amendments to the current document. The amendments are as follows:
Parent Gail Beck asked if there was a legal requirement for the $1 membership fee. The PTO will be passing the amended Bylaws past the school district’s legal team and ask this question. Linda Norris motioned to approve the Bylaws as amended. Anne Jenkins seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Slimy:
Carol McQuillen
Co-Chair Carol McQuillen asked for approval to purchase a food preparation cart for $400. Mrs. McQuillen passed around a drawing of the proposed cart. The cart would be locked, when not in use, have an inventory listing of supplies, and would not contain sharp instruments (knives, etc.) The cart would not have refrigeration. Parent Dora Sudarsky asked how the chopping block would be sanitized. Treasurer Sheila Royer asked if there were any school district food preparation guidelines which would need to be followed while using the cart. Treasurer Sheila Royer indicated that Slimy does have the necessary funds in their budget. Parent Tom Grocki motioned to spend $400 to purchase the food preparation cart. Stacey Pape seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Co-Chair McQuillen also passed out a parent interest handout describing 3 school district-wide subcommittees which Slimy will be leading. The objective is to broaden the reach of the sustainable living initiative district wide.
Slimy is looking to move the date of the Spring Tag Sale to the weekend of May 19th and 20th.
Drama: Ellen
Erdmann
Drama Chair Ellen Erdmann reported that preparations are going well. The new curtains have been ordered and should be installed for the January performance. Fundraising for the production has been good with some larger donations and corporate donations. The subcommittee has been selling Drama t-shirts and will hold a bake sale before the performance. Ticket prices are a $3 donation.
Project
Northlands and Nurturing Parent: Madeleine Nash
Guidance Counselor, from Marcotte Central School, Madeleine Nash asked the PTO to support 2 district wide programs. Project Northlands which is a peer mentoring program for 5th graders, run in conjunction with the Police department, to discourage drinking at a young age. Ms. Nash asked for $200 to support this program. Parent Dora Sudarsky motioned that this money be appropriated. Parent Deidre Riehle seconded the motion. Motion passed.
The Nurturing Parent program is run for parents who need help. It is free to 8-12 families. The program is for both parents and children; a dinner is provided. Ms. Nash asked that the Orchard PTO place a $300 line item in the annual budget to support this program. Treasurer Royer asked that a contingency be placed on the line item, that all 3 elementary school PTOs must have the line item in their budgets. Sheila Royer motioned that a $300 line item be added to the PTO budget, contingent on all 3 elementary school PTOs adding the same line item. Ellen Erdmann seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Budget Report:
Sheila Royer
Treasurer Royer reported that Pizza Night netted $340, Plant Sale netted $250 and Book Fair netted $1800.
Enrichment: Rick
Ebel
Principal Rick Ebel passed out to the PTO officers, a proposal from Chad Hollister for a school wide enrichment activity.
Proposed School
Start Time Changes: Rick Ebel
The high school principal has proposed changing the high and middle school start time from ~7:40am to 8:30am. This would help the development of adolescence, based on current research. This would necessitate shifting the elementary school start times from 8:20am to 8am, with bus picks ups around 7:40am. Elementary school dismissal will be around 2:40pm, bus routes and the School’s Out program would be adapted. This subject will be on the school board agenda for Wednesday, January 11 at the Marcotte Central School.
School District
Budget 2007: Rick Ebel
Principal Ebel announced that the FY2007 school budget was being formed now. He asked if there were any programs/items which should be included in the budget. Parent Linda Norris requested the inclusion of world languages at the elementary school level be included in the budget. Parent Denyse Lestrange asked if more physical education could be included in the budget. Principal Ebel responded that Orchard does meet the state standard for healthy schools by having physical education twice per week. Parent Connie Keetle inquired about an accelerated math program for 5th graders, similar to an existing program at Marcotte Central. Teacher Melinda Tate indicated that the accelerated math programs in 5th and 6th grade would dissolve next year.
School Safety and
Security Measures: Rick Ebel and David Young
As part of a safety improvement bond passed 3 years ago, closed circuit cameras are being installed in all schools in the district. A monitor will be located in the main office, but no one will be continually monitoring the images. Assistant Superintendent David Young explained that the cameras would be used in emergency situations. Principal Ebel indicated that Orchard students will need to practice building security (lockdown) procedures annually. Communications from the Principal will come home before the practice with the terminology used.
Looping: Rick
Ebel
Principal Ebel gave a brief history of looping at Orchard. He mentioned that he has constructed a draft parent survey. Parent Dora Sudarsky asked to be involved in the improvements to the questionnaire, especially in regard to looping. Parent Connie Keetle asked why other schools haven’t adopted looping. Parent Anne Jenkins presented materials suggesting that looping works best in schools with at least 24 classrooms. In the successful models, those schools offer 1 year, multi-age, and looping placements. Parents Lynne Baechle and Ellen Erdmann requested a greater mixing of children during the placement process.
Diana Schwaigert motioned that the meeting be adjourned at 8:30pm. Roz Saunders seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Page created by PTO Secretary Lynne Baechle and Orchard Library/Media Specialist Donna Macdonald.
This page last updated: 02/28/06.