April PTO Minutes

West Parish PTO Minutes
Meeting of: April 3, 2007

Co-Presidents’ Report

In Appreciation: Thank you to Trisha Reed for organizing the First Grade Bake Sale. Thank you to Beth and Ed Dahlmer and Annette Spanks for organizing the Skate Night. Thank you to Tess Whitmore and Steph Caudell for all of their help with the Guatemala Playground Fundraiser. Thank you to Jill McRae, Julie Ellis and all the volunteers who helped with the Scholastic Book Fair. Thank you to Mackenzie Plante for supplying the pictures of the Reading Night for the West Parish Blog.

West Parish Reads Festival: The Serpent Came to Gloucester is our book selection. The PTO is working with the teachers to help each classroom become involved. There will be an E-Visit from the author who will answer one question from each class. A storyteller or “celebrity reader” is being planned for the Family Night.

Golf Tournament: Ed Dahlmer, John Churchill and Kathy Bertagna are still hard at work on the Golf Tournament to be held on Saturday, May 12th.

Money Madness: Fifth grade fundraiser was very successful! Thank you to Laura Rogers and Marcy Plante.

School Financial Crisis: Thank you to Karen Aquipel who is organizing ways for parents to act during this difficult time for our schools.

West Parish Blog: Thank you to Yoshi Campbell for all of her hard work establishing the West Parish Web Site. You can find it at http://www.westparishpto.blogspot.com/.

Treasurer’s Report

The Scholastic Book Fair had net proceeds of $1800.00. Skate Night netted $310.00. General Funds available are $45,764.00. Cash balance to be brought forward to next year is estimated at $20,000.00. Motion made to accept report was seconded and accepted.

Secretary’s Report

Minutes were posted on the West Parish Blog for the first time. Motion was made to accept minutes, seconded and approved.

Principal’s Report

MCAS was completed by the 3, 4, and 5th graders. Students did their best. Results will be available in September or October.

National Teacher Day is Wednesday, May 9th. Mr. Gutstadt and Mrs. McRae usually host a luncheon for all of the teachers. Marcy Plante is Appreciation Coordinator so this will be coordinated with her help.

Guatemala Playground Fundraiser: During a two week period of time, the students of West Parish far exceeded their goal of $1000.00 to raise a total of $1567.82. The students were wonderfully generous, often bringing bags full of change from home. Laura Carver sent pictures and the students from Gordon College who went to Guatemala will visit to talk to the students after vacation. After building the new playground, there may have been money left over to provide for a lunch or snack program.

School Committee Budget: The Budget and Finance Subcommittee will meet tomorrow at 4:00 to discuss comments heard at the Public Hearing and to make plans on what the School Committee should vote on for the budget on April 11th. Yoshi Campbell commented that the Budget and Finance Subcommittee may adjust what they are going to present to the full School Committee based upon what they are hearing from parents.

Guest Speaker: Greg Bover

Greg Bover is the Vice President of the Sawyer Free Library Board of Directors. He informed the group about the SFL Renovation Project and the Debt Exclusion Override. He stressed that the Library should be considered an important partner in education. This project has been in the works for about 10 years, which explains the timing for asking for the Debt Exclusion now. There would never be a good time. Over the last four years information including studies and architectural planning have been compiled in order to apply to the State for a 4 million dollar grant. In order for the renovation to happen there is a tripod of money needed, that from the State, City and private donations. All three are needed to make it work. If they are unable to receive the money from the City, they will not be eligible for the money from the State. Out of the 4 million in private donations needed, 1.5 million has already been committed. If the State money is realized there would be a six month time frame for the private money to be raised. The library is in desperate need of renovations. It needs a new boiler and wiring among many other things such as ADA compliance. Plans include a larger meeting room, an expanded children’s section, air conditioning and parking. Plans are also being made to replace the Bookmobile with a van. Teachers could order books online which would then be delivered to the School by volunteers. Mr. Bover clarified what a debt exclusion override is. It is limited, basically a 20 year mortgage that is paid off and goes away after 20 years. For the average homeowner, their taxes would increase about $52.00 in the first year which would then decrease year after year until it is paid off. If this passes, it will be a vote for hope instead of cynicism. The Sawyer Free Library is central to Gloucester’s cultural life. The vote for the Debt Exclusion is on April 24, 2007. Sawyer Free Library Campaign headquarters is located at 185 Main Street. You can visit their website for more information at http://www.sflcampaign.org/.



Guest Speaker: Beth Morris

Beth Morris, representing Stand For Children gave an update on the upcoming Second Annual School Funding Rally to be held on Wednesday, April 25th at the Statehouse. The messages being taken to the legislature are (please see handout for more info):
Increase Chapter 70 funding $300 million over FY07.
Include 100% reimbursement of transportation costs in the SPED Circuit Breaker and lower the threshold for kick in to 3 x foundation costs.
Immediately commission an adequacy study to determine what it takes to educate a child today, how much it costs and how can the State provide sufficient, equitable and predictable funding.
Support the Municipal Partnership Act and develop additional means for raising adequate state funding for education.
The buses will be leaving for the Rally from Stage Fort Park. The deadline to sign up to ride on the bus is April 11th. A commitment card can be filled out this evening. Stand For Children’s goal is to have 2000 participants attend the rally. In order to reach this number, 4000 must be asked. Stand For Children’s position on children attending the Rally is that students should be in school. Besides attending the rally there are other important ways to help, http://www.stand.org/ gives suggestions on ways to lobby and contact legislators. Write to Tarr and Verga and explain how this is affecting you. Write to the legislators beyond Tarr and Verga (who already understand our predicament), to educate them on what is happening in Gloucester. Also contact key leadership such as the Ways and Means Committee and Education Committee. Letters to the Editor in support of Stand For Children and their agenda before April 25th are also important. You can contact Beth for assistance with composing a letter if this would be helpful.

Teacher Requests

The SPED department had a mirror that was lost and has requested $100.00 from the PTO for a replacement. Motion was made to pay for the mirror and approved.

Upcoming Events

Hands-on Earth Day Exploratorium will take place on April 27th from 5 – 8pm. It is being organized by Leslie Beaulieu. Please see flyer attached. There will be 15 stations following an Earth Friendly theme. There will be some make and take tables. Organic chocolate, natural cleaners and energy efficient light bulbs have been donated so will make a 100% profit. A group of National Honor Society students have offered to help. Cathy Marshall from the Brownies has asked if the Brownie troupe can run a table. Karen Hunter has gotten 5 or 6 card tables donated to West Parish that can be used. More volunteers are needed contact Leslie at http://www.lebeaulieu@comcast.net/.

Golf Tournament will be held Saturday, May 12th at the Meadows at Peabody. There will be a shot gun start. Bring extra golf balls if you are not an avid golfer. Cost is $125.00 per person which includes green fee, cart, dinner and raffles. So far there are 11 four person teams signed up. We are hoping for 25 teams. Teams and individuals may sign up. First, second and third prizes will be offered. Business sponsors are being sought. The potential profit to the school is $9000.00.

Fifth Grade Spaghetti Dinner to be held May 4th.

Mad Hot Ballroom to be held May 6th. CD’s are on sale for $20.00.

Planning for the Future

PTO Officers/Teammates needed. A strong PTO is needed for next year with all the challenges ahead of us. Continuing to build community will be so important. Yoshi will stay on in the position of Co-President if a partner is found. Tricia Reed has expressed interest in the position of Vice President for next year. Kim Morgan offered to work with Yoshi and Tricia. Linda Pata will stay on as the PTO Treasurer. Tonia Belanger would like to step down as Secretary.

Planning for the Future of Gloucester Schools

Please attend Wednesday night’s Public Hearing and urge the School Committee to not present a budget that will include the closure of Fuller School and laying off of teachers. One Gloucester is developing ideas for the future and are looking for input. They are interested in fundraising 2.7 million dollars to help the school system. Karen Aquipel put a list of contacts together along with a sample letter to encourage everyone to contact City Officials, School Committee members, City Council members and House Ways and Means Committee. There is also interest in the possibility of pursuing a smaller override to help save some of the teachers. Can a plan be implemented that will bring some hope?

Respectfully submitted,
Tonia Belanger
Secretary