September PTA General Meeting Minutes

Meeting brought to order Annie Marges @ 6:39 PM, followed by introductions of board and all 16 people in attendance.
Agenda
  • Approve 6/5/2019 PTA Meeting Minutes
  • New Business
  • Principal Report
  • Budget Review 
1.    Approve 6/5/2019 PTA Meeting MinutesAnnie Marges asked attendees to review the copies of the June 5, 2019 Special PTA Meeting Minutes on each table. 
Motion for the PTA to approve of the June 5th Special PTA Meeting Minutes made by Karen Kinnett. Justin Hopkins seconded. Motion passed by a vote from attendees.
2.    New BusinessNew 4 feet high fence was successfully installed prior to school starting. The new fence has make noticeable improvements to the school’s security. Students now can access the playground without having to walk out near to the outside fence that was previously more exposed.  
 
5th Grade Committee 
  • The committee is responsible for organizing/hosting 4 fundraising events that the 5th grade class benefits from in order to attend Outdoor School. 
  • Need someone to chair committee. Ideally, it’s headed by a 5th grade parent and the Vice-Chair is either a parent of a 4th or 3rd grader so that they can step into the position the following year.  
  • Karen Kinnett volunteers to serve as 5th Grade Committee Chair. She agrees to take the lead on organizing the 2 Movie Nights and Bingo Night. She asks that another volunteer 
  • 1st Movie Night is November 22. Will 2 movie nights and bingo and then someone will need the popcorn Fridays which are once a month. 
  • Popcorn Fridays are now only once every month in order to ease the burden placed on custodial staff. The campus is always left a mess and requires additional time for custodians to clean up after students. Also, it’s anticipated that by doing Popcorn Fridays once a month it will generate more excitement around the day and equal, if not greater, demand.
  • Another idea discussed was for the 5th Grade Committee to partner with another grade to hold these fundraising activities. 
Proposal for Pie & Preparedness Night
Leanna Heiman and Bridget Good propose that the PTA host a “Pie & Preparedness Night” in Candalaria's Gym on Wednesday, October 17th (same day at the Great Oregon ShakeOut). The purpose of event is to engage students’ families and the neighbors in school-centered community resilience. PTA board has approved of the event, but the budget request of $500 requires PTA members approve.
  • At “Pie & Preparedness Night” Principal Turner will speak on the school’s plan for reunification and what parents are responsible for in the event of an emergency. 
  • Greg Walsh, Emergency Preparedness Manager with the City of Salem has agreed to speak at event. He can present on what to expect from the city in terms of disaster preparedness and response. 
  • American Red Cross is available to host a table and will provide coloring books, stickers, giveaways & info for parents. 
  • Fire Department will be invited and asked to have a firetruck available for kids to explore. Police Department will also be asked to attend.
  • Bob Maca, the Emergency Management Specialist with Salem-Keizer Public Schools is very supportive. If the event goes well, he hopes to replicate at other schools across the district.
  • Salem’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) will be invited to host a table.
  • Event will be advertised through a number of venues and it will be free and open to the public, Salem-Keizer SD's Monday Minutes, Salem Weekly, Salem CERT, PTA Newsletter, Candalaria’s closed Facebook Page and Nextdoor.com and SouthWest Association of Neighbors (SWAN).  
  • Send Emergency Preparedness Information home with all students in their Thursday folder in early October, i.e.Living on Shaky Ground: How to Survive Earthquakes and Tsunamis in Oregon – Oregon Office of Emergency Management can donate copies for free, along with the event flyer.
  • Total Budget Request = $500 (added to budget to be approved by attending members)
    • Includes the purchase of desserts from local vendors: $150
    • Paper plates, cutlery, tablecloths and other event supplies: $100
    • Prizes for families such as headlamps, flashlights, radios, card games: $250
    • Parent volunteers will be asked to bring a dessert via SignUpGenius 
    • Event organizers, Bridget Good and Leanna Heiman will contact local vendors to request in-kind donations of desserts and prizes. 
 
3.    Principal Report 
  • Enrollment is up to 366 students. Class size is not capped. 
  • Among the new hires we have a new 5th grade teacher and Instructional Aides
  • New fence has been a welcome addition as it provides a physical barrier that helps protect the students when they are let out for recess. 
  • Candalaria is still in the process of getting security cameras installed. It is taking time due to district procurement processes and other considerations. 
4.    Budget Review
  • Karen Kinnett asked for Loving Lens line-item to be added back to the budget. Loving Lens provides 5th graders with the opportunity to learn about photography. 
  • Principal Turner explained that this was originally removed by the PTA board due to the fact that it substantially takes away from instructional minutes. The district is putting increased emphasis on literacy. Over 30% of Candalaria’s students, when they enter middle school, are reading below grade-level. Loving Lens cuts into time that needs to be dedicated to core literacy.
  • Steve Nass provided brief overview of proposed budget. Income producers are primarily Funds Run and Auction. Proposed budget is a conservative, but revenue generating. 
  • Suzie Phelps asked on behalf of Judy Renkins for an additional $500 for Read Across America books. Last year PTA requested for Judy to go through existing inventory of books and clear out old books. Last year $1,100 was spent for RAA.
  • Karen Kinnett proposed that we are more generous with our sister school, Bush Elementary, a feeder school to South Salem High. Originally budgeted for $1,500. Justin Hopkins moves to double the amount to $3,000. Jessica Drakes seconds. 
  • Karen Kinnett proposed to increase cultural enrichment budget by $1,000.
  • Other parents voice concern over Loving Lens being removed from budget. Consensus is to keep it in the budget at $1,500 with the understanding that it will be offered as an after-school activity that doesn’t take away from instructional minutes. 
  • Proposed Budget Additions: 
    • $500 for “Pie & Preparedness Night”
    • $500 increase for Read Across America books
    • $1,000 increase for Cultural Enrichment 
    • $1,500 increase for PTA Community Support (contribution to Bush Elementary) 
    • $1,500 for Loving Lens
  • To balance the budget, Steve Nass proposed to subtract $5,000 from the capital project.
Motion for the PTA to approve of the revised proposed budget made by Suzie Phelps. Bridget Good seconds. Motion passed by a vote from attendees.
5.    Announcements
  • Back-to-School Pizza Picnic: Thursday, Sept. 19th, 6-8 PM. On Any Sundae will also be there to sell ice-cream.
Meeting adjourned at 7:35 PM.
 

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