PTO Minutes for May 14, 2007

In attendance:  Allyson Yandow, Allyson Downing, Lynne Baechle, Sheila Royer, Lisa Hebert, Moira Daly, Rick Ebel, Carol McQuillen, Monica Ostby, Nancy Hellen, Ellen Erdman, Kay Howley, Susie Merrick, Diane Bugbee

Allyson Yandow called the meeting to order. 

1.  Meeting minutes:  Moira Daly

The minutes of the April 9 meeting were reviewed.  Lynne Baechle motioned to accept the minutes as summarized.  Allyson Downing seconded.  All were in favor, none opposed.

2.  PTO Officers from F.H. Tuttle Middle School:  Susie Merrick and Diane Bugbee

Notes on F.H. Tuttle P.T.O. Visit to Orchard School

Respectfully submitted by Susie Merrick

Diane Bugbee and Susie Merrick were warmly greeted by the Orchard School P.T.O. community.  After Diane’s and Susie’s presentation, those in attendance at Orchard’s P.T.O. meeting shared a number of excellent ideas:

• Suggestion was made to coordinate the schedule of next year’s P.T.O. meetings so that all meetings were staggered throughout the month and were not all held the same week or night.  We should also take into account the dates/times of School Board meetings.  Susie will contact the three elementary school P.T.O.s to see about moving forward on this coordination.
• Another suggestion around scheduling was to offer a variety of times for FHTMS P.T.O. meetings:  one month hold the meeting at night, and then another month hold the meeting as a brown-bag lunch.  In this way, we might better figure out a time that works best for our middle school families in order to increase attendance at our meetings.
• One parent whose children had attended FHTMS a number of years ago brought up her concern about the Endzone Program no longer being a 5-day-a-week after-school program for middle school students.  She wondered if we might have a meeting focused on a discussion of that issue.  Susie explained that another parent had brought this same concern up at the Coffee Connection (a new FHTMS P.T.O. tradition where parents gathered for an hour or so first thing in the morning at the school to connect and grab a cup of coffee).  The Orchard parent continued by recalling that the Endzone Program used to be run in part by parent volunteers.
• This same Orchard parent recalled a wonderfully successful FHTMS program called Reading Power, where members of the community came into the school to have book discussions with small groups of students during language arts class.  Community members included retirees, Rotarians, etc.  This parent remembered Marie Toro being involved.  Susie will speak with Marie about this.
• Another parent suggested that the FHTMS P.T.O. offer coordination on creating a Volunteer Club for the middle school students.  This club would investigate and list volunteer opportunities in and out of the school that would be appropriate for middle school students.  Discussion revolved around volunteer activities that already took place at FHTMS.  Many agreed that there could never be enough volunteer opportunities offered to our children.
• Significant discussion took place around concerns that the Activity Bus no longer existed.  Parents would like to see discussion at an FHTMS P.T.O. meeting around what we might do to bring this bus back.
• Parents also raised the issue of the socials.  Parents would like to see discussion take place at an FHTMS P.T.O.meeting around making the first social solely for sixth graders in order to make their transition to this new tradition a bit easier.  Parents did not feel that the 7^th and 8^th graders needed to have this first social just for themselves.  Perhaps, they suggested, this first dance could be just for sixth graders and then the next social could be for all three grades.
• Finally, one parent had the suggestion that we pool our resources as a community in order to be sure that each P.T.O. has a representative at each school board meeting.  In this way, that individual could report back to the P.T.O.s.  Additionally, those parents attending the school board meetings could compare notes to be sure all information was consistent going back to the P.T.O.s.

Before leaving, Diane and Susie encouraged any in attendance to contact them with other ideas.

3.  SLIMY Update:  Carol McQuillen

The SLIMY tag sale involved 20 student and 10 adult volunteers who cleaned up the space in record time.  Carol also indicated that new ideas were generated for the fall tag sale.  The tag sale raised $ 3,452.35. 

The front of the school garden is ongoing, with the unveiling scheduled for May 23.  Students have been involved in preparing the soil for the gardens.  Plantings will go in later in the project, likely in early June.  SLIMY has inquired re a sprinkler system that would minimize water use by being installed under the gardens.  Gardener’s Supply has a suitable system, and following discussions with them, Carol is optimistic that the system could be received as a gift.  SLIMY would have to pay for the installation.  Because this would require additional funding than what was proposed in the initial budget for the project, Carol asked that $500 from the tag sale finance the installation.  Monica Ostby motioned for the PTO to allow SLIMY to use $500 from the tag sale to pay for installation of a sprinkler system.  Moira Daly seconded the motion.  All present were in favor with the exception of Lynne Baechle, who opposed the motion.

For the front of the school garden unveiling, Monica Ostby suggested placing a sign in the garden thanking all contributors for their private donations.  Carol will arrange to have this done.

The position for the student intern has been posted, and their have been 2-3 inquiries.  A committee from SLIMY will interview the candidates. 

4.  Playground Equipment Thank You Card:  Nancy Hellen

Nancy presented the PTO officers with a large thank-you card from the students for the purchase of playground equipment.  The card will be mounted in the cafeteria for all to enjoy. 

5.  School Directory:  Monica Ostby

Email addresses will not be included in the student directory this year as there is insufficient space in the current layout.  Email addresses will be requested from families, and shared with the PTO, member committees as appropriate, and team parents. 

Lynee Baechle suggested including email addresses for teachers in the directory.  Ellen Erdman inquired as to whether teachers were consistently receiving emails.  Rick Ebel indicated that the server blocks many incoming messages, such that teachers are encouraged to check their junkmail folders. 

6.  Pizza Unos Fundraiser:  Monica Ostby

The check for the April fundraiser has not yet been received.  Monica Ostby will follow up on this. 

7.  It’s My Artwork Fundraiser:  Lisa Hebert

The PTO will explore having another fundraiser closer to the holidays to hopefully generate increased sales. 

8.  Staff Appreciation:  Allyson Yandow

The staff appreciation luncheon is scheduled for Monday, May 21.  Jennifer Cohen is coordinating the event and seeking additional donations of food items.  Allyson received offers of food from members present. 

9.  Vermont Lake Monsters:  Allyson Yandow

Order forms for ticket sales of Lake Monsters tickets will go home Friday, May 18.  June 25 is Orchard’s night, at which time the PTO will sell 50/50 tickets. 

10.  Enrichment:  Allyson Yandow

The PTO will need to begin considering Enrichment activities for next year.  Allyson Yandow will contact Dora Sudarsky, Enrichment coordinator, and Rick will ask teachers to begin thinking about Enrichment activities for next year.

11.  PTO Officer Elections for 2007-2008:  Lynne Baechle

The positions of Co-President and Co-Treasurer filled by Allyson Yandow and Sheila Royer, respectively, will need to be filled for the upcoming academic year.  The PTO thanked Allyson Y. and Sheila for their years of service with the PTO.  Lynne Baechle will prepare a notice to parents regarding these vacancies in order to encourage interested individuals to approach the PTO in advance of officer elections at the first PTO meeting in September. 

There being no further business, Lynne Baechle motioned to adjourn the meeting.  Allyson Downing seconded.  All were in favor. 

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  This page last updated: 09/20/07.