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Parkside Elementary School
PTO Board Meeting Minutes
January 4, 2009

Members in Attendance: Elizabeth Tomera, Melissa Traum, Kathy Berry, Connie Horvath, Shelly Erickson, Julie Workman, DiAnn Nadem, Tony Marsaglia, Lauren Kaufman, Laura Beel, LaNell Greenberg, Karl Sila

Elizabeth Tomera called the meeting to order at 6:34 pm

Unit 5 Diversity Advisory Council: Presented a power point presentation that included their goals as well as other information about the council’s mission. PTO members had the opportunity to ask questions of the council.

Julie Workman presented on the Money Smart Kids program. The program is sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank in Chicago and is a financial literacy program for students. The program hopes to help students learn about the power of investing, compounding and spending wisely, etc. This year, students in grades 6-8 are asked to write an essay of 500 words or less regarding money and investing. One winner will earn a $4,000 scholarship for college. By choosing only one winner, the program sponsors are hoping to make a real difference. For more information please visit:

www.pantagraph.com/moneysmart

President’s Report: Elizabeth Tomera reported that Jenny Demosthenes and Jennifer Barlow were absent. Then discussed that it is time to form a nominating committee to obtain next year’s PTO board. DiAnn Naden and Julie Workman volunteered to be on this committee. The committee will recommend officers in March and we will vote on those officers in April. Julie asked the board to email job descriptions to her so that they would know what they are asking of people and to have those descriptions included in the newsletter. (It was asked if nominating committee members can be nominated for office and if we have a president and vice president, instead of co-presidents. Melissa Traum and Elizabeth said they would double check the by-laws). The following members are interested in board positions next year:

DiAnn Naden-President
Jennifer Barlow-Vice President
Karl Sila-Treasurer

Treasurer’s Report: Melissa Traum informed us that our Tax Exemption Number needs to be renewed by April and she mailed the form today. She has not yet received the November Butter Braid bill and will follow up with Susan Biancalana about it. Scrip made $500ish for the month of December. Melissa is currently dealing with one bad check.

Principal’s Report: Mrs. Erickson reported that at the January Institute Day Teachers had a menu of choices for workshops to attend. The workshops focused on kids response to intervention, technology and inclusion. Mrs. Erickson and Mrs. Greenberg recently went to the SAMS conference in Orlando. They hear the coordinator of the SAMS movement speak and were presented with lots of research that shows the effectiveness of SAMS. The Benjamin staff has been approved by the board and there are many teachers from Parkside will be transferring: Aper, Sprau, Ersland, Purcell, Hatfield and Goldman. Mrs. Erickson asked that we hold off telling students the news until the January newsletter comes out. Displaced teachers will be placed after the vacancies are posted, but before new teachers are hired.

Committee Reports

Spring Fundraising: We do not have a spring fundraiser chairperson or fundraiser picked out at this time. The board is looking for someone to take this on. Melissa Traum will email Althea Morse to see if she is interested.

Scrip: The January order date was pushed back due to Winter Break. The Silas have not yet ordered signage to promote Scrip. The last month’s drawing winners were Mary Dyck and Mrs. Arendell. The random drawings for a $10.00 Scrip credit will continue over the next few months. Don’t forget to order your Noodles card in February to use at Noodles on 2/17. February orders are due 2/5 and will be delivered 2/12.

Restaurant Fundraising: Kathy Berry reported that we do have a total from our 6 Carle’s nights yet. She has been approached by Moe’s and Rosasti’s, as well as Culvers (again) for fundraising nights, but is going to hold off. Upcoming Dates: Noodles (Normal) 2/17 4-9pm; Avanti’s 3/15 all day; Monicals 4/6, a flier is needed for Monicals. Kathy will be graduating to junior high next year and needs a replacement.

Butter Braids: The November bill has not been paid yet, Melissa Traum will contact Susan Biancalana.

Room Parties: DiAnn Naden has given the teachers reminder notes for the parent volunteers. Valentine’s Day parties will be Friday 2/12 at 2:15 pm.

FFN-Basket Raffle: Tony Marsaglia has the notebook, finally. He and Darren Sampson some girls out over the weekend to take letters to merchants for donations for the basket raffle. We discussed the idea of each grade level doing a basket to allow kids the opportunity to be involved. We will have more on this next time.

Playground: Due to Unit 5 finances it appears that if Dan Brady’s grant doesn’t come through we are on our own. If we have a plan in place by April, we should still be okay getting work done this summer.


Assemblies: Mrs. Erickson reported that she and Angie Stoewer are still hammering out assembly dates.

CAC: The CAC committee on Best Practices of Parent Groups is contacting parent groups in other districts regarding their best practices.

Nominating: DiAnn Naden and Julie Workman volunteered to be on this committee. The committee will recommend officers in March and we will vote on those officers in April. Julie asked the board to email job descriptions to her so that they would know what they are asking of people and to have those descriptions included in the newsletter. (It was asked if nominating committee members can be nominated for office and if we have a president and vice president, instead of co-presidents. Melissa Traum and Elizabeth said they would double check the by-laws). The following members are interested in board positions next year: DiAnn Naden-President
Jennifer Barlow-Vice President
Karl Sila-Treasurer

New Business

New school PTO donation request: The board was contacted by Dana Brown regarding donations to the Benjamin and Cedar Ridge PTO’s to help them with start-up costs. Elizabeth Tomera will email her asking about the Brigham-Cedar Ridge movement. Since Brigham is supposed to transfer everything over to Cedar Ridge, we are less apt to send money to them. A donation to Benjamin may be sent, however we tabled the discussion until next month. We are sending teachers there, and it would be nice to send a small donation in support of our transferring teachers.

DiAnn Naden made a motion to adjourn at 7:43. Julie Workman to seconded the motion.




 

Parkside Elementary School
McLean County Unit District No.5
1900 W. College Ave. | Normal, Illinois 61761
Ph. 309.862.5014  |  Fax 309.862.5047 
Attendance Line  309.862.5015
Principal  Shelly Erickson erickssj@unit5.org 
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