PMCS PTO 2007-2008
Meeting Minutes
September 10, 2007
I. Opening Prayer
The meeting began at 7:09 p.m. Sign-in roster is at Attachment A; 59 members were present.
The meeting began with an opening Prayer.
II. Welcome/Introductions/Recognition
A. Welcome
Sarah Ross, PTO Co-President, welcomed everyone and thanked them for attending. A special thank you to the Room Moms that provided the evening snacks, coordinated by Suzanne Menichiello.
B. Introduction 2007-2008 PTO
Sarah introduced the 2007-2008 PTO Board.
Presidents – Sarah Ross and Nichole Muñoz
Treasurer – Jeanne Cichon
Secretary – Susan Holmes
C. Introduction – Principal (Larry Dorsey-Spitz)
Sarah introduced our new Principal, Larry Dorsey-Spitz.
D. Introduction – Staff
All members of staff that were present were introduced.
E. Introduction – School Advisory Board
Colleen Dalsaso, School Advisory Board Chair, introduced this year’s Board:
Chair – Colleen Dalsaso
Vice-Chair – Gail Hickert
Secretary – Jennifer Cannon
Members - Greg Brames
Linda Garcia
Susan Holmes
Lisa Martin-Wegryn
Suzanne Menichiello
Joe Stefanec
Colleen invited all to any School Advisory Board meetings.
F. Recognize New Families
All new families were recognized and welcomed.
G. Special Recognition
Sarah and Nichole presented last year’s PTO Executive Board with flowers and a small token of our appreciation (a prayer book). These ladies worked very hard and took on additional time in office (18 months), to ensure PTO stability. Last year’s officers were:
President - Karen Condon
Treasurer - Rhonda Miller
Secretary - Tricia Halverson
III. Mission Statement and Goals
A. PTO Mission Statement
With Jesus Christ as our guide, our mission is to enhance the learning environment for students, administration, and faculty at Pauline Memorial Catholic School by raising funds and building community to support the goals of the school.
B. PTO Goals
1. To adhere to the 2007-2008 PTO Budget.
2. To support current and future school improvements and additional needs.
3. To communicate openly and honestly with staff, families, and Church.
4. To ensure PMCS families are afforded the opportunity to be involved in
school/Church community.
5. To support our PMCS staff throughout the 2007-2008 school year.
IV. Treasury Report (Jeanne Cichon, PTO Treasurer)
Jeanne began by explaining the Free Dress Pass for the families that attended. The pass is a sticker and should be worn by the children. It is good for tomorrow, Tuesday, September 11th, only.
A. Current Budget Overview
See Attachment B for Profit & Loss Budget Overview.
1. Jeanne explained that at the end of last year, the PTO approved only a partial budget (to include the Ice Cream Social, Book Day, etc.). Jeanne proposed a budget for this year.
2. Mr. Maes will discuss construction update information later in the meeting.
3. With our PTO funds this year, one option would be to assist the school in getting new windows and doors (in the old part of the school). New windows and doors must be installed, prior to getting air conditioning for the old wing. The breakdown will be approximately $12-13,000 per room. Air conditioning will cost approximately $50-70,000.
4. As well, Mr. Dorsey-Spitz has requested a new Science program (K-8) and training for teachers for this program. Also proposed by Mr. Dorsey-Spitz is a new Math program
5. The Library is always looking for additional funding for more books.
6. In the new Gym, it is possible that we could purchase a volleyball curtain to split the two courts (for game situations).
7. The school is in dire need of new sports uniforms (Wrestling 1-8, Soccer/Basketball 5-8).
Jeanne Barta asked if the total on the “Available as of 9/10/07” line was correct. It was just an error in calculation and has been updated in the attachment. Susan Holmes moved that the 2007-2008 Budget be approved. Lee Madden seconded. All were in favor; none opposed.
B. Reimbursement Process/Expectations
At the bottom of the Overview is a list of expectations.
1. All receipts must be turned into Jeanne.
2. Tax will not be reimbursed.
3. All receipts must be turned in within 14 days after the scheduled event.
C. Issues Raised from Floor
Shannon Boyd, Art Teacher, has requested a new cabinet for the new art room. The cabinet would help to secure a paper cutter, to keep the children safe. The utility cart is $49.87 (Sam’s Club). Mary Beth Burichia moved that we purchase the cart. Gail Hickert seconded the motion. All were in favor; none opposed.
V. Communication/Information Flow
A. PMCS/PTO Website (http://www.st-pauls.net/ or http://www.stpaulcos.org/)
Mary Simmons has done a great job with the website. Thank you, Mary! Website information is above. The first address will simply offer a link to the new address, but both will get you there.
B. Thursday Folders
A lot of information will be going out in Thursday folders. Please pay attention to those. Please remember to return the folders with your student(s) or take directly into the office.
C. Email Communication
Lisa Martin-Wegryn has been sharing all of the email information with our families. Thank you, Lisa, for your hard work. If you receive a “gibberish” email, it’s a request to submit a date to your Outlook Calendar. If you don’t use Outlook for your primary email, the email will come across as gibberish. Please let Lisa know, and she will remove you promptly from the distro list.
Other options that the school is pursuing would be similar to what St. Mary’s does. It’s a one-per-week Email Blast. Communication is very important to the school.
D. Telephone Tree
The committee of volunteers for this effort will still be in place this year.
VI. PTO Events
Fundraisers
Sally Foster - OCT (Teresa Kovacic)
Taste & Traditions - 3 NOV (Committee)
This is our biggest fundraiser. Last year raised $56,000. There are silent and live auctions, table sponsorship, and tons of fun. This year’s theme: Prom Night. Dress as if you went to your prom or update your prom look. There will also be a fundraiser for Prom King/Queen. More information to come.
Sock Hop – 2 FEB (Ellen Haskins)
Family fun!
Lenten Soup Dinner – 9th or the 15th FEB (Jan Rickey)
This wonderful soup dinner is done in conjunction with the Live Stations of the Cross (Rob Plush). It was a great event last year, so we are expecting a bigger turnout this year.
Pauline Panache – 25/26 APR (Jan Rickey/Megan Broker)
Last year raised $10,000.
Golf Tournament* – 16 MAY
*Need chair(s)/volunteers.
Community Builders
Book Day – 19 AUG (PTO/Staff)
Ice Cream Social – 7 SEP (PTO)
Grandparents’ Day – 20 NOV (Mary Rosenoff/Dee Moure)
Breakfast with Santa – 9 DEC (Karen Condon)
Dads Cookin’ Lunch – 21 MAY (Joe Stefanec)
VII. Other Business/Principal’s Report
(The list below does not identically follow the Principal’s Report, see Attachment C. With discussion, Mr. Dorsey-Spitz covered the topics in the following order.)
A. Pick Up/Drop Off Procedures
Drop off and pick up will change next week. The surface has been paved. Parent volunteers are needed to help. Once the entire school is completed, drop off and pick up procedures will change yet again. We will move to a one-lane pick up (more information to follow), for safety purposes.
B. PSR Update
The PSR Program will be using the school on Sundays (possibly Wednesdays sometime in the near future). The PSR Teachers have been asked to please respect the existing set up, desk, personal/school supplies, etc.
C. Mr. Dorsey-Spitz addressed a question about the school logo change. Per the “Catholic Herald”, the Diocese will move to one logo. However, our logo will have our name on it and we will still have our green/white colors. This change will be gradual. Uniforms, at this time, are not changing. As more information on this change is received, it will be shared with all families. There is not discussion yet as to how this change will be funded. $300,000-500,000 is needed.
D. The school will have a 9/11 Celebration tomorrow. The Broadmoor Fire Department will attend, and the children/staff will wear red/white/blue ribbons.
E. The school is in need of lunch volunteers. The volunteers will be with the children during the lunch periods, help to tidy the tables/floors during lunches. Commitment is from 11:20 a.m. – 1:20 p.m.
F. Hot lunches will begin next Monday (17 SEP).
G. Progress Reports will be one week late.
H. The school is initiating new “meditation times”. From 8:25-8:30 a.m. and 3:25-3:30 p.m. each day, the staff will take a 5 minute meditation break. The lobby has been changed to be more welcoming to families. If you visit the school during these meditation times, please feel free to sit in the family faith table.
I. School attendance is down from 188 to 181.
J. Class times for PE, Art, Spanish and Music have been increased. Mr. Dorsey-Spitz believes that it is important to train the right side of the brain as much as the left.
K. There will be a quarterly Awards Assembly. Principal Awards will receive in academic letter. There will be designated prizes for 4.0 GPAs. As well, Mr. Dorsey-Spitz will continue the Caught Being Good program. Two students per each class will be recognized during morning Prayer.
L. Spirit Shirts can be worn this Wednesday with jeans. If your child does not yet have a spirit shirt, they can wear their PMCS shirt with jeans.
M. The Middle School will be taking a greater leadership role this year.
N. There will be a Spirit/Student Council Day. The children can pay $1 to be “out of uniform” for the day. More information will come out in this week’s Thursday Folder. It will be Wednesday, 20 SEP.
O. School Pictures were today, and there are posters set up in the main lobby with more information. Students will get a library card with their LifeTouch picture this year.
P. PMCS bought into World Book Encyclopedia On-Line. All families will have access. It will be done through the Library. Passwords will be provided.
Q. A question was proposed: “Do you plan to get teachers up and running with email, so that they can communicate with parents?” Mr. Dorsey-Spitz said that on the website, there will be BIO buttons with the teacher’s bio and website. Mary Simmons mentioned that the PTO website has a link to teachers and the gradebook website. Teachers’ emails will be first initial, last name@stpaulcos.org (i.e. John Doe = jdoe@stpaulcos.org).
In closing, Sarah thanked Larry for all of the hours that he’s been putting in over the Summer. Mr. Dorsey-Spitz mentioned that families are always welcome to come in or call him. “Ideas only happen or are achieved, if it’s an environment where ideas can flow.”
VIII. SCRIP (Suzanne Menichiello/Sara Boldt)
Suzanne and Sara coordinate the SCRIP program. The SCRIP volunteers will be selling in JPH Hall for the remainder of this week. Next week, they will move into the main corridor of the school (just down from the double doors that lead to the Library). Hours will be from 7:45-8:15 a.m. and 3:15 – 3:25 p.m. and 3:30 – 3:45 p.m.
Suzanne and Sara will be doing paperwork in the SCRIP Office. Please purchase your SCRIP from the volunteers at the SCRIP desk. If you have questions, they will always be available. Don’t forget, you can continue to stop after your $3,500 commitment!
IX. Construction Update
Mr. Felix Maes provided a construction update.
There will be a final inspection of the school facilities on 2-9 OCT. This does not include the Gym. The final inspection for the Gym will take place 2-5 NOV.
Rain has slowed progress. They are doing a good job. They have apologized for the snafu with the parking lot situation. The heavy rain on top of bad soil has made the condition a challenge. They had to spend extra money to mix cement into the soil to help with stability.
Judy McCarty raised the idea that major needs are still evident and they are not in the budget. Felix mentioned that they tried to work in as much as possible. However, instead of being able to make additions to the construction, we made a promise to El Pomar that we would put any monies not needed for construction towards retiring the debt. For example, window and A/C were not in original budget. If we were to add these now, it would not be in good faith to El Pomar.
Felix brought up the idea of putting a curtain between the volleyball courts in the Gym. The curtain would fall right in the middle of the doors. Therefore, they decided not to include it. St. Mary’s doesn’t have one, and they haven’t needed one.
Father John would like to make sure there is appropriate lighting for parking lot areas at night. This is important, but it could take an additional 3-4 months to see additional items like this happen.
One scoreboard has been donated by Pepsi. They have donated the board after the first of the year. Felix was not sure if we could purchase the board early, and then ask Pepsi to reimburse. He suggested that maybe PTO could buy it, and then Pepsi would reimburse PTO.
The Middle School will receive half lockers. The older (full-sized) lockers do not fit in the new wing. The new half lockers will not properly hold backpacks, coats, and all of the books that the middle school children have. (7th/8th grades don’t have coat closets, either.) Mr. Dorsey-Spitz is looking into this dilemma (room available, fire codes, etc.), and provide information once he is able to see what space the lockers will actually take up in the new hallway.
Kitchen/Cafeteria update. They had to find new equipment. It is being hooked up and the inspections are done. The kitchen will be up and running on Monday, 17 SEP.
Felix reminded everyone that the design was done six years ago. They have updated it for codes, but it’s still an older design.
X. Closing/Adjournment
A. Closing Comments
Sarah thanked everyone for attending. She reminded everyone to sign in, if they hadn’t already done so and make sure each family received the Free Dress Passes.
B. Free Dress Passes
C. Next PTO Meeting: October 8th, 8:15 a.m., JPH
XI. 2007-2008 PTO Meeting Dates
2007 2008
10 SEP - 7 p.m. 14 JAN – 8:15 a.m.
8 OCT - 8:15 a.m. 11 FEB – 7 p.m.
5 NOV - 7 p.m. 10 MAR – 8:15 a.m.
10 DEC - 8:15 a.m. 14 APR – 7 p.m.
12 MAY – 8:15 a.m. (Final Meeting)
Meeting was adjourned at 8:24 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan Holmes
2007-2008 PTO Secretary
Attachment A – PTO Meeting Sign-In Roster
For confidentiality purposes, the PMCS PTO will not post sign-in rosters on the website. A copy of the sign-in roster will be kept in the PTO Secretary Continuity Book.
Attachment B – Profit & Loss Budget Overview
Attachment C – Principal’s Report
