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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.
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