PTA Board Meeting Minutes    February 27, 2008 at AES Library 6:30pm

Attendees: Cindy Russell, Dee COte, Gail Browne, Tara Nelson, Julie Amery, Janet Wetherbee, Kathy Rutter, Deb Jancewicz, Lisa Cassidy, Linda Lynch, Julie O'Neill

1.) Science Fair - Julie O'Neill -

Reviewed material we have and what we need to order.  We decided we would do 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place ribbons and have certificates for participation. 

She reviewed the timeline - with some help sessions planned and a "drop-in activity" prep meeting prior to the Science fair day.

She reviewed expenses to date. 

2.) Fundraising - Linda Lynch

Yankee Candle fundraising went home today - We got another 4 tickets and overnight stay package from Coco Key which we will use as an incentive for selling Yankee Candles

Coco Key - Planning for next year - we could have it on Monday, November 10th, which is a professional day or on Tuesday, November 11th, Veterans Day.  We chose to reserve Monday, November 10th.  From the February raffle - the Tori family won.

3.) Afterschool Enrichment - Cindy Russell - Letters went home today in the Poly - looking for parents to signup to teach.  Course selection will go home in next weeks poly.  Sign up is 3/17/08.  Classes will run 3/24/08-4/14/08 (4 weeks). 

4.)  Budget Report - Dee Cote - See Attached -

Reviewed current budget, then presented 1st draft of 2009 proposed budget.  The main change being she figured in $10.00/student for field trips up $2.00/student from this year's amount of $8.00/student. 

By next Friday we need to email Dee with any comments or changes we recommend for the 2009 proposed budget.  She will put it on the website with a link address going out in the following Wednesday's poly for general PTA review before the general PTA meeting scheduled in May.

5.) New business -

Coat rack proposal - 

Larry Cronin had built some coat racks for two classrooms his kids were in.  Some teachers expressed an interest in his making them for their classrooms.  He volunteered to make them but he asked us if we could pay for the materials which would be around $75.00/rack. 

We had many questions which we need answered before we can vote on.  We will ask to have the following questions answered : Do the coatracks meet the building/fire codes?  What would be our liability if we provide the racks if someone gets hurt by one?  We have some limited money available but we couldn't afford to have one made for all classrooms, so how many classes are interested?

On-line shopping proposal from Cindy Cargill - She would setup an online shop for us to sell school memorabilia - we discussed it a little bit - Bruce McBrien at the AES already does school spirit wear- CES as far as we know does not.  Would we interfere with this?  We decided to table it for next meeting.

Professional Day proposal - Julie was approached by a principal to see if the PTA could help out with next year's professional days.  The proposal was that day would be a full school day for the children but in the afternoon the teachers would all leave for an off-site workshop.  Could we, as the PTA, help out in the afternoon?  Our discussion included: Are they just looking for money - for an in school program to engage the kids in the afternoon?  If it is curriculum based we cannot.  But if we do get an in-school program in who will be responsible for the kids?  Substitutes?  Are they looking for us as PTA members to volunteer?  We believe there is a liability issue.  Also, would we be dismissing the kids?  The dismissal procedure is quite elaborate and could very quickly become unsafe is there are not people around who know how it goes.  So we decided we would say we could provide the money for an in-school progam to come in but we could not provide the personnel support.

6.)  Leadership for next year - Julie Amery announced that she will be resigning as president after the end of this school year for personal reasons.  We are looking for : President and  Membership, In-school Programming, and After-School Enrichment chairpersons

7.)  Next meeting will be April 8th at CES.

8.) Meeting adjourned at 8:00pm