Minutes for October 9, 2006
Attendees:
Kerry Zuccareno, Tracy Fornasier, Diana Schwiagert, Rosalind Saunders, Ellen
Erdmann, Allyson Downing, Allyson Yandow, Rick Ebel, Lisa Kunin, Kate Boucher,
Melinda Tate, Karen Villanti, Maureen Genzlinger, Pam Liberty, Judy Poor, Sheila Royer, Jin Hiart, and Lynne
Baechle.
Co-President Yandow welcomed everyone to the PTO meeting
and recognized staff members Melinda Tate, Maureen Genzlinger, Karen Villanti,
and Judy Poor.
Secretary Lynne Baechle summarized the meeting minutes
from September, 2006. Ellen Erdmann motioned the minutes be approved as read.
Allyson Yandow seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Co-President Allyson Yandow announced the results of the
Officer Elections held at the September meeting. Lisa Hebert was elected Co-Treasurer. Lynne Baechle was elected to the 2 year term as Co-Vice
President. Shortly after the
election, Co-Vice President Ellen Erdmann stepped down as Co-Vice President,
citing increased family obligations which made it difficult for her to complete
her term as Co-Vice President. The
PTO Board has appointed Diana Schwaigert to fulfill the remainder of Ellen
Erdmann’s term. The position of
Secretary was not filled in September. Moira Daly expressed interest in the
position after the meeting. Lynne
Baechle motioned that Moira Daly be elected as PTO Secretary.
Allyson Downing seconded the motion. Motion passed. Moira Daly was
elected Secretary of the PTO.
Kate Boucher, School Board Chairperson presented
information regarding the movements to amend the City charter. The current charter allows the school budget to grow a
certain percentage dependent on the growth of the city’s Grand List.
The City is currently looking at putting a 1% local sales tax and rooms
and meals tax to reduce property taxes and set up a capital fund.
There is a petition circulating in the community to vote
on each school and city budget. If those budgets don’t pass after 2 attempts,
the budget (school or city) would revert to the last passed budget.
The current City charter was passed in the 1960’s. The City of South
Burlington has never passed a school budget. 70% of city residents don’t have
children in the school system. Mrs. Boucher pointed out that it is difficult to
create a school budget within the charter limits.
Mrs. Boucher then reviewed some charts comparing South Burlington to
neighboring communities.
The average annual increase for city taxes is 4%; the
South Burlington School taxes 5%, and the State Education Fund 25% (Act 68).
Mrs. Boucher provided websites for Save the Charter and Amend the Charter groups.
Jungle Book will be the play this year.
The Drama subcommittee already has many key people in place: Director,
Music Director. The production will
be performed on January 26th and 27th 2007 in the Orchard
gym. There will be a parent volunteer production meeting on October 10th.
Mrs. Saunders thanked the teachers, PTO and parent volunteers for making this
production successful. 4/5
permission slips will go home on October 27th.
Roz Saunders and Lisa Kunin will be splitting the duties
of Drama subcommittee chairs. Mrs. Saunders will focus on the stage pieces and
the children while Mrs. Kunin will be in charge of the box office, and
fundraising. The Drama co-chairs
gave the PTO Treasurers a copy of their proposed budget for Jungle Book.
Sheila Royer motioned to approve the Drama budget as
submitted, Diana Schwaigert seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Treasurer Sheila Royer stated that PTO membership
numbers are coming in nicely. Harvest Festival, Innisbrook and Pizzeria Uno’s
fundraisers number will be announced in November.
Co-President Yandow discussed a proposal to recognize
the contributions of Mrs. Susan King (a teacher of 35+ years at Orchard who
retired over the summer.) The PTO
would like to make an annual donation to the leveled library in Mrs. King’s
name. A special book stamp would be placed in the books to recognize Mrs. King.
Mrs. Karen Villanti, a reading recovery teacher in charge of the leveled
library proposed that parents/children be allowed to “check out” books from
the leveled library. The PTO
proposed a $200 donation be made to start the “check out” library and then
an annual $100 donation.
President Yandow also asked the group to make a donation
$100 to Hospice of Champlain Valley in memory of George Heflin, the bus driver
of bus 22 who died in mid September. Allyson
Yandow motioned that both proposals be approved. Allyson Downing seconded the
motion. Motion passed.
This year’s Harvest Festival was the largest ever.
Over 400 dinners were served. A
suggestion for next year is to emphasize the need to pre-pay for dinner. It was
also suggested that dessert be sold separately. The Harvest Festival
subcommittee will look at the suggestions.
Dora Sudarsky and Barbara Pawluk are doing the groundwork to establish an enrichment procedural process to evaluate suggestions and ideas for enrichment in the future. The Enrichment subcommittee would like the staff and teachers to establish a research center for enrichment ideas.
Mrs. Tate, a 4/5 teacher, explained the difficulty in
updating teaching materials and textbooks given the recent budget cuts.
The 4/5 teachers have been looking for new textbooks for grammar, to
replace 10 year out current texts. The
teachers have found a text which was written to reflect the NECAP standards.
Each student text would cost $20, the teachers in the 4/5 wing are asking for
$2700 to purchase enough books for the 4/5 wing.
The PTO officers tabled this item until after our next officers meeting.
There will be a discussion of the NECAPs (New England
Common Assessments) in January.
Principal Rick Ebel announced an Internet Safety
informational meeting at the next PTO meeting. It will be conducted by the South
Burlington Police department and Mrs. Macdonald, the school librarian.
There will be a PTO Bake Sale on Election Day November 7th.
Please see Kate Cunningham to help out.
Allyson Yandow motioned that the meeting be adjourned. Sheila Royer seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Page created by PTO Secretary Lynne Baechle and Orchard Library/Media Specialist Donna Macdonald.
This page last updated: 11/17/06.