PA Leadership Transition

The TBS Parent Association Bylaws call for an annual meeting in May, at which leadership for the next school year is identified. Technically, the Bylaws call for elections, but in keeping with our consensus approach to decision-making, the meeting really consisted of a reflection on the 2010-2011 year, a conversation about what we want for 2011-2012, and identification of the right roles for the people who had indicated an interest in being part of the core group for 2011-2012.

We had a nice turnout, and focused our conversation on some of the highlights of the past year, including:

• Spring Auction - over $100K raised for teacher development and the music program
• Monthly Community Potlucks - a new community-building activity that has grown steadily since the fall
• Garden Days at both campuses
• TBS's first Creativity Fair - giving our kids a chance to demonstrate their talents and their most inquisitive natures
• Tuesday Schmoozedays
• A new snack program - bringing organic, healthy snacks to every classroom

Then, we got down to the business of planning for continuing our successes next year. The following TBS parents stepped up to lead the PA over the summer and into next year:

Marian Bradley-Kohr and Moira Kenney - Co-Chairs

Dobee Snowber - Secretary

Elizabeth Grimes - Treasurer

Ann Kim and Abby Klein - Parent Education

Rachel Pound - Volunteer Coordinator

The new position of ECC Liaison remains open, and we will continue to answer questions from ECC parents interested in getting involved.

Finally, to get the ball rolling for next year, Dave Yetter led the discussion about the Pick-a-Party planning. This promises to be the most innovative Pick-a-Party yet, with new ways to get involved, support TBS, and have a whole lot of fun.

Please leave us a comment to let us know you are reading our posts, and to ask any questions. We l

PAMeeting10272010Notes

Hi all-
Attached please find the meeting notes for the 10.27.2010 PA Meeting

tbs/Parent Association Meeting agenda
date: 10.27.2010

(6 pm)
Welcome -Mark
Updates and/or Action Items from previous meeting
School Photo Prices:
Various parents complained about price and options. Cindy/TBS talked to the photographer. They are willing to offer 1 shot of kids. Package reasonable but working on offering 1 cheaper option. Cindy negotiating
Comments: Clare W: Expressed importance of having at least one “economic minded” choice
Mark: Suggested Class shot and 1 shot of the kid

Extended Day (Mitch: see notes below)
Campus improvements (bathrooms, basketball court:
Bathroom improvement: Marian talked to Marites. Idea was started by Julieanne- she may need help “realizing” the plan.
Mitch- says this is not a site committee issues- hears issue will act on it.
BBal court: Mark covering space for alternate use
Site committee issue
Lunch program: Gina update on current program- 155 sign ups- 80%/ mostly 5 day – some chose 2-3 to begin with and then moving to 5. Great first 10 days- 3 classes using own silverware- 3 own plates
Parent Suggested: asking parents to bring containers-
Gina- felt it was imposition but it was suggested to offer as an option
Dawn: kids and portions-how are they getting this right? Can kids go back for seconds.
Gina: confirmed kids can come back for 2nds- trying to get portions right. Doing a survey age appropriate to check out how it is going- everyone- parents/teachers and students

Review Minutes from Last Meeting – Dobee (not enough time- minutes were passed around for review).
Board Meeting Report – Moira (not enough time- Mark addressed issue of Retention later on in meeting)

PA Budget: Mark:
Draft Budget for 2010/2011 and allocation of funds
Need brainstorming ideas for raising additional funds.
Mark: solicitation PA Volunteers Needed! Pick an event you want to see succeed, and join in!

Snack: Marian – Need system and volunteers to keep this going :
Marian: Organic fruit/veg and bread arrive each Thursday. Helen has been overseeing it need someone to help distribute food to classes on Friday morning- sorting food and putting in bins per class. Ensuring supplies are kept in stock
Moira: suggested a sign up- only serves K-3. Maybe room parents can get , We’re covered through December. Moira taking Jan and will get someone to cover Feb

Rummage and Bake Sale: Marian – Need committee to organize and promote:
Need a few people *2-3) to commit to running it.
No one stepped forward
Date: tentatively
Jolie (per Marian): suggesting a Holiday bazaar
Suggestion: combine Rummage sale and Holiday Bazaar

Auction: Marian – Marian needs someone to assist as Auction Organizing Lead-
Suggestions: Put in Newsnotes-
Figure out ways to reach out to parents

Mitch: Aftercare: open to questions
reports on aftercare conversations:
Are the parents talking
Serve as the person representing to the admin- hearing parents
- no questions (issues seemed to have been addressed)
Security issues recap:
We had 2 breakins in a 1 weeks time- one ins StrawC- window broken and teacher computer stolen
SweetB- window open- no damage stole computer
1 week later: break in upstairs- mac desktop stolen.
Admin/Mitch considering various options-
After hours guard
Neighborhood networking
Staff and faculty much more vigilant to security- ensuring doors and windows are locked. Locking up equipment at night.
PA Budget: Mark:
Drilled down on budget and available funds: $6500/PA - $3500/PEd
Draft Budget for 2010/2011 and Need brainstorming ideas for raising additional funds.
Comments:
Suggestion to buy gift for the school ie: bench- done in years past
Suggestion to allocate funds to classrooms- Jennifer advised this was done in the past but not successfully. Money was not used right away/rolled over into following years budget/then someone wanted to use- got confusing. These monies are now part of the general School budget
PA Agenda: (Topic presented but not fully addressed):
Explaining our PA meeting agenda – what role can we play in helping direct parents to resources, where should agenda items go first, questions and answers (need to put on next agenda
Mark: introduced the Blog- need to post in newsnotes each week.

(7:00 pm) Adjourn

TBS Parent Association Meeting agenda

Date: 10.27.2010

(6 pm)

Minutes Approval– Moira/Dobee

Approval of Minutes for (previous meeting date) PA meeting

(6:01 pm)

PA chairs welcome and update- Mark/Marian

Updates and/or Action items per previous meeting

- School Photo Prices

- Extended Day (Mitch to speak later)

- Unfinished bathrooms

- Basketball court shade/rain cover - applies to - Lunch, full school assembly, ?

Actions items list presented from parents for this meeting - read list - no discussion yet.

(6:10 pm) -

Board update: Moira

(6:15)

Status on PA events/committees:

Snack: Marian - Given the simple system - who does it? Admin, Teachers, Parents, Students?

(6:20)

Rummage sale and food/bake sale: We need someone to head - organize promote. Work it - The day of.

(6:35)

Auction - Looking for Auction Head - Schedule generative meeting for those interested in contributing talents/energy/thoughts - Post this - out reach.

(6:30)

Gina Tenga - Her thoughts, challenges, successes and adjustments of the new program.

(6:35)

After Care: Mitch - Concern to have a “structured play or encouraged engagement” option for the kids.

(6:40 pm)

PA Budget: Principles - Build community, food, child care, entertainment, singing, dancing, party elements - Parent Ed, great speakers - Promotion - Support volunteers, food - support child expression, “Creativity Fair” - Support parent initiated events that support the community and our kids, “Tuesday Schmoozeday” - Environmental dressing for events, set the mood.

How much money do we have? Approximate budget out lay.

We would like to get more money to support our work though: The rummage sale and earmark more money to ParentED though a clever auction-item at this years Party/auctionn.

(6:45)

New Action Items recommendations/discussion, issues.

(6:50 - 6:59)

Close Meeting:

(6:59)

Next meeting date:

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Please Reply with PA Agenda Items for Oct Meeting

Please post your requests for agenda items as replays to this post. We will discuss them at next Wednesday's meeting Oct 27th at 6pm. Please be on time for delicious pizza and the movie Race to Nowhere starts at 7pm. Looking forward to seeing you all Wednesday night.

Hello Everybody Welcome to Our New Blog

The TBS Parent Association has no experience creating a blog. So please be patient with us as we experience the digital gowning pains before us.

Thank you all so much for engaging in the process of making TBS a wonderful and exciting place for us all.