Teach Boosters Meeting Minutes December 2012

Meeting Minutes - December 2012
Teach Boosters Meeting
Room 27, Teach School

December 14, 2012

Attendance: Randi Barros, Dan Block, Idona Cabrinha, Nara Clark, Erin Clausen, Denise Jenkins, Grace Kim, Suzanne Mulay, Mukta Naian, Marie Neumann, Robin O'Leary, Lori Shields, Carie Stanton

The meeting was called to order at 8:33 a.m.

I. Welcome

Idona welcomed the group and thanked them for attending. She pledged to keep the meeting running so that it ends in a timely fashion.

II. Reading and Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting

The minutes from the November 2012 meeting were distributed throughout the room, and people were given a few minutes to review them. Suzanne Mulay then motioned that we approve the minutes, and Marie Neumann seconded. The minutes were approved.

At this point, Denise Jenkins mentioned that she was going to need to leave early and that she hoped someone could cover the Lunchtime Recycling Program during the Announcements at the end of the meeting. Idona asked if Denise would mind describing the program now, and Denise agreed. She reported that Mary Kay Stratton is organizing a group of 3rd through 6th graders to monitor and help with lunchtime recycling.

III. Treasurer's Report

Marie Neumann reported that in January she will distribute invoices and communication to those families who haven't yet responded. She further reported that funds collected to date are as follows:

4th: 87% in/heard from
5th: 80% in/heard from
6th: 67% in/heard from

Marie said that $3,000 in Scrip orders were deposited yesterday. She said that the bookkeeper had questions re credits; she's not sure that it makes financial sense to give add'l credit to parents through this program. Mr. Block noted that the office's concern with Scrip involves the fact that the cards they store for parents are essentially cash; if something were to happen to one, it would wipe out any profit/benefit to the school.

Lori Shields asked how much profit has come through the Scrip program. Marie said that Paige Wright knows and would be the person to ask. Denise Jenkins asked how many families are currently involved, and Marie said that it is only 8-10. Idona said that perhaps Scrip is not lucrative unless all money earned goes into the general fund, and another parent commented that buying Scrip can take away from personal awards like credit card miles programs. Mr. Block said that the changes in rules from year to year can also complicate things. Marie also noted that we won't really know how personal balances are impacted until the end of the year.

There was some additional discussion that included the suggestion that we only offer -- for example -- Chevron cards; Mr. Block said that this isn't possible because we're not bonded to do it. Grace Kim described the Mission School model and the fact that parents are charged if they don't earn a minimum amount through Scrip; without being able to operate this way, the program may not be worth it. It was decided that the Boosters organization needs more input from Paige at this point.

IV. Principal's Report

Mr. Block described AB 1575, which passed and is a revision of a previous bill. He said that the legal ramifications may be that we no longer have the ability to raise money for specific accounts. Some parents cited examples of this playing out in other schools. As a result, we may need to shift focus to general fundraising. The schools will be sorting this out over the course of the year.

It was noted that this could impact the January distribution of invoices. Mr. Block said that we haven't yet been given specific compliance instructions from the District.
Marie Neumann noted that we have already spent $10,000 on scholarships for school trips and that we may have up to $8,000 more (this is the total for families across all grades from whom we've heard nothing).

Suzanne Mulay asked if we could have a parent make calls with a personal appeal. Mr. Block said that this has been done in the past, but that the new legislation might preclude this.

Marie noted that there is currently $33,000 in the CD, and that the bookkeeper offered to make these calls to parents.

Mr. Block offered his personal opinion that it's difficult to continue making fundraising appeals after your family has already approached relations and friends. It's also a tricky time for fundraising. It was noted that BP families have seven years to accrue funds for their trips, while Teach is on an accelerated timeline because it is a 4/5/6.

Idona asked Mr. Block about the Los Osos Middle School move, and there followed discussion on that topic. Monarch Grove, Baywood, and Del Mar 6th graders will go to junior high next year. It is based on where students currently go to school, not where they live.

There is talk of this being a model for SLCUSD. What this means is that there may be an add'l STEAM program, not necessarily moving all 6th graders to Laguna (which doesn't have capacity).

Idona highlighted dates on the agenda -- 1/5/13, 2/5/13, and 2/19/13. Mr. Block said that the School Board meeting on 1/15, which starts at 6:00 p.m., is when board members will be hearing data and community feedback. Robin O'Leary urged parents to attend and be involved in the discussion. She said that we need to stress that Teach is a valuable asset to the community (and not to focus on your individual student).
It was mentioned that parents can go to the School Board web site and submit a letter of support. Parent involvement and communication is important. Mr. Block said that now that the School Board has worked through the Los Osos Middle School issue, the BP/Teach capacity issue will now be a priority.

V. Old Business

A. Fundraising : Scrip was already discussed. The calendar has been ordered; 20 families purchased, and we ordered an add'l 5. They may be delivered after break if they don't arrive before. Thanks to those who supported through attending or helping with Applebee's.

B. Web: Sunshine Cowgill offered to manage the blog site; we should stream info through her.

C. Bylaws: We're running behind on this and need to revisit it.

VI. New Business

A. Upcoming Events

1. Elective Update: Electives will span 5 Thursdays and begin in January. There are 11 classes planned and we do need add'l parent help. Lori Shields said that we should include a list of planned classes in an appeal to parents for help. Grace Kim said that she wants to help and noted that we should make sure that we have space for everyone.

2. Variety Show Update: Parent helpers are also needed for this. The tryouts are 1/9/13. Mr. Block said that he really enjoys the process and shows and hopes that a lot of kids will be involved.

3. Sweethearts Luau and the Creeky Tiki: A new addition to this effort is the Bid Board, and Idona described this idea for everyone. Robin O'Leary described her experience with a Bid Board at Monarch Grove. Suzanne Mulay asked if Robin would send her the MG example (visual) for design efforts. Idona noted that teachers can get involved (eg, offering to lead a group hike). Suzanne asked if she could develop a Save-the-Date notice to go out before vacation and said that she'd take care of it.
Regarding donations, Idona said that she has a form letter for potential donors. She also answered a question regarding child care by saying the Central Coast Gymnastics has donated child care in the past and we hope to do this again. There will be further discussion of the Luau event after this meeting.

4. T-Shirts: Chantal Blanchard is going to manage one more t-shirt order, and then we need a new parent to take over this job. Suzanne Mulay said that she would talk to Summer Kabaker about working on this together. Erin Clausen said that she would assist them.

B. Class Reps

Mrs. Kelly is getting excited for Yosemite, and CAP projects are starting for one grade and finishing for another.

VII. Announcements

Idona said to let her know if you are interested in going to Dr. Prater's meeting in January (or any other month).

Robin O'Leary said to encourage students to keep physical projects created in school because the Mid-State Fair gives ribbons and small monetary prizes to kids for these each summer.

Lori Shields asked about the Target Red Card donations to Teach. Janet Crabb could fill us in on this; the funds can't go to the Boosters per regulations.
Randi Barros described an idea for hosting a craft fair in the spring. She said that kids and parents could make things and sell them. Idona asked Randi to spearhead this potential event.

Randi motioned to adjourn the meeting and Suzanne Mulay seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 9:39 a.m.