PTO Minutes for February 11, 2008

Attendees:  Allyson Downing, Monica Nygaard-Ostby, Diana Schwaigert, Lynne Baechle, Moira Daly, Rick Ebel, Rosalind Saunders, Lisa Kunin, Donna Sullivan- Macdonald, Dora Sudarsky, Pam Liberty, Andy Pearson, Steven Schmidt, Carol McQuillen

Monica Nygaard-Ostby, PTO Co-President, welcomed all attendees and brought the meeting to order. 

1.  Review of minutes from January 14, 2008:  Moira Daly

The minutes from the last meeting were circulated, reviewed and accepted.   Meeting minutes are available for review online through the Orchard School website. 

2.  SLIMY Update:  Carol McQuillen

• Carol has circulated a classroom composting survey to all teachers and is awaiting responses re classroom composting activity. 
• The Chittenden County Solid Waste District will be at the Science Fair on March 12 promoting composting and giving out compost buckets. 
• Tree stumps in the wooded seating area will be replaced by Barrett’s Tree Service at the cost of cutting the stumps on site from a trunk donated from another site. 
• There has been a request for SLIMY to widen paths through the back woods area and make them wheelchair accessible.  Carol indicated this will become part of the area maintenance, which includes an annual check for poison ivy, and this year will include posting tree labels created by a past intern. 
• Carol and Rick discussed the additional of another storage shed for grow labs when not in use in classrooms.  This may become a project of the tech ed program. 
• Tag Sale dates will be May 16 and 17.
• Sabrina Joy will once again offer 25% of sales to SLIMY during the week of May 19 (prior to the Memorial Day holiday).
• The Green Team has been established at the high school to help with healthy learning initiatives. 

3.  Technology Update:  Donna Sullivan-Macdonald and Andy Pearson

The projection system for the 2-3 wing was discussed.  School’s Out has agreed to donate a computer and projector at a cost of approximately $2050.  Andy Pearson indicated that with these two components, the system could begin to be installed with an additional cost of approximately $400 for wiring.  Thereafter, additional components could be added as funds were raised.  The total cost for setting up the room to include a Smart Board would be $5178.  Some suggestions for sources for additional funding included a Box Tops for Education initiative, Unos pizza night, the election day bake sale (on March 4 during break?), and a portion of the teachers’ classroom funds which could be earmarked for the technology fund for this project.  Monica motioned to have the PTO provide the $400 necessary to wire the computer and projection system, and Diana seconded.  All were in favor.

4.  Drama:  Roz Saunders and Lisa Kunin

• Coverage of the play was featured in The Other Paper with several of the photos Roz submitted being published.  Roz hopes to send photos to the Free Press as well for additional coverage.
• The general consensus was that all involved, especially the children, had a very favorable experience.  This is due to the Very Merry Theatre drama program that Don Wright brings to our school.  We are very lucky to have this program at our school!
• Andy Pearson received a round of applause and much thanks for his work with the kids specifically and with the play in general.  His many efforts included coordinating the stage crew, copying the labels for the cast CDs and production DVDs and copying the program. 
• Opportunities for getting more families involved in the play were discussed as this provides a wonderful opportunity to foster connections in the school community. 
• Drama has a slight budget surplus in part due to donations received from Orchard families. 
• The priority for the drama budget will be to upgrade the acoustics in the gym for future productions.  Andy Pearson has included upgrades to the Orchard sound system in the district budget as Orchard may be used for other district events.  The district budget gets approved on May 20, and if the Orchard acoustic upgrades are approved, permanent fixtures could be installed over the summer. 
• Raising the level of the stage helped with visibility of the production this year, and the dais that was constructed has been secured and will remain in place.  Lisa Kunin requested that the PTO furnish the cost of the materials that have been used to reinforce the stage.  Lynne Baechle motioned to approve the request, and Moira Daly seconded.  All were in favor.
• The PTO approved the purchase of two curtains for the wings after Roz indicated another curtain is needed on stage left so performers in the wings aren’t visible to audience members.

5.  Skate Night – Lynne Baechle

• Skate Night will be March 28 from 5:30-8:30.  To date, 14 baskets have been identified for the raffle, and work on obtaining more, with the goal if 50, is ongoing.  Each class will be asked to come up with a basket theme and donate items.  Lynne is hoping to have all items obtained by March 18 and wrap them thereafter. 
• Rally Cat, the UVM mascot, will be present at Skate Night. 
• Volunteers are needed to put together baskets, to sell tickets for the student-teacher raffle at school in the days before Skate Night, and to work at the arena on Skate Night.  Only three people responded to the email sent out to those who identified themselves at the fall orientation as able to volunteer for Skate Night.   
• Teachers are being encouraged to come to attend, and high school students have been identified as skate guards/monitors.  
• Skate Night will be promoted at the upcoming Science Fair on March 12.

6.  Fundraising Update – Monica Nygaard Ostby

• The Cookie Love fundraiser originally considered for March will be held in May so as not to conflict with any fundraising surrounding Skate Night.
• The first annual Spring Fling will be held on Friday May 2.  This will be a family dance party.  Andy Pearson has volunteered to provide the sound equipment.  Heidi Hopper is coordinating this. 

7.  Volunteer Opportunities

Some suggestions for increasing volunteerism at PTO activities include greater promotion of events at the initial fall orientation.  Chairs could be present to represent their event with information and photos from years past to encourage people to get involved.  As will be the case with Skate Night having representation at the Science Fair, using special events to promoting events coming up later in the year was suggested.  

8.  Lowe’s Donation – Steven Schmidt

Lowe’s, which recently opened in the Orchard area, has a “Toolbox” program whereby they donate up to $5000 to area schools.  Mr. Schmidt would like to approach Lowe’s to help improve the area on the school grounds that he frequently uses with his class.  He is hoping to get funding to build bridges, install benches and construct gardens.  He has involved his third grade class in writing to Lowe’s.  He indicated that the donation may need to come through the PTO.  Lynne Baechle motioned to have the PTO endorse this activity, and Allyson Downing seconded.  All were in favor.  Moira Daly volunteered to act as PTO liason as needed. 

9.  Money for fieldtrips – Rick Ebel

According to the Superintendent John Everitt, parents cannot be asked to pay for educational items.  Effective next academic year, teachers will no longer be able to ask parents for money to pay for field trips, which are deemed part of the curriculum.  The PTO was asked for their guidance on this.  Teachers may be asked to identify all costs at the beginning of the year, as best can be predicted, and the PTO could collect the funds and funnel them back to the teachers.  This will be discussed further among teachers and staff to consider workable options that would not create challenging logistics for teachers and PTO involvement.  Rick will get clarification from Superintendent John Everitt on whether the PTO can fund field trips, possibly under PTO enrichment initiatives. 

10.  Oral History with South Burlington Residents – Steven Schmidt

Mr. Schmidt’s third grade class has been meeting with South Burlington residents at Pillsbury Manor to gather oral histories.  Their next meeting will be on March 13.  Contact with The Other Paper was discussed as a way to inform the broader community of the school initiatives extending into the community as a way to foster good will leading up to the school budget vote!

There being no further items for discussion, the meeting was adjourned.  The next PTO meeting will be on Monday, March 10. 

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  This page last updated: 05/03/08.