PTSO Board Meeting Minutes September 9, 2013

Attendance:

Dr. Jane Lipp Pamela Nelson Yvette Prosser Priti Patel Lisa Packer Laverne Henson Julie Gorski Barbara Cammarata Rita Archer Beth Engelhardt Janice Myers Georgia Hyland Deborah Hernbach Tatia Cook Ivette Booher Sally Wilson Carolyn Wendt Cecilia Chukwu Liz Mullany Sally Rocke Nannette Henderson Jennifer MacDonald Elana Jordan Cecilia Herola-Morris

The first PTSO meeting of the school year was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President Yvette Prosser.

Minutes: Review of the minutes from the June 4, 2013 Board meeting were approved as read and will be put on the PTSO website.

President report:  Mrs. Prosser welcomed everyone. Also she thanked all the volunteers. A special thank you to Kim McGoff for the staff breakfast. It was greatly appreciated by the staff. Lisa Packer did a wonderful job organizing the Stallion Stampede. Thanks to student services, and leadership students working at Stampede. The new procedures worked well. Thanks also to Priti Patel and Janice Myers for their hard work doing gardening and weeding around the school. Reminder that there will be a weeding and mulching party Saturday, September 14. Mrs. Prosser then introduced the executive board and Mrs. Lipp. There are two committee chairs open – health, safety and parenting. Fundraising for the ANGP is underway. Save receipts from Glory Days - When you dine at a Glory Days Grill, the restaurant will contribute 10% of your total food purchases to the South County PTSO- All Night Grad Party. Volunteers are needed for the holiday craft and vendor fair. Page 2

First Vice President's Report

Lisa Packer gave her report. The Catalyst SAT boot camp will be September 28-29, with the SATs on the following Saturday. Sign up early if your child wants to take the SAT at SOCO.

Second Vice President's Report

Janice Myers gave her report. She thanked everyone for coming, stating that it means a lot to the Board for parents to come out. Brick sales – will be ordered at end of October and again around spring break. Mulching/weeding party – this Saturday. Mulch will be delivered Friday – the mulching party is planned from 8-12PM – the more the merrier (and the faster!). Reminder that kids can earn service hours. Meet out front. Bring wheel barrows, gloves, shovels.

Treasurer’s Report:

Rita Archer reported that the year started with $46,184.13. Mrs. Archer went through the budget line by line. Total of the budget is $16,070 leaving $30K over. We discussed the possibility of spending $10K on technology this year. Dr. Lipp suggested that they could use carts for online texts. Mrs. Henderson stated that the PTSO has an ongoing revenue of about $25K between membership and contributions. Mrs. Henderson stated that the laptop scholarship is for only a few kids, and that we give out scholarships of about $7000 that only benefit 15 kids. Mrs. Henderson means that 28% of the budget goes to benefit such a small number of kids. Julie Gorski responded that the scholarship programs are open to all to apply , so they are open to more than just those that get the scholarship. Georgia Hyland stated that she wanted to see more line items on the budget. Mrs. Archer then gave out line item budget. Jennifer MacDonald remarked that with respect to the laptop scholarships, donations were solicited from community, and that only if she doesn't get enough in donations would she come to to the PTSO. Mrs. MacDonald explained that the PTSO scholarship line item is the maximum amount that would be spent, and the amount actually spent would be dependent upon the number of quality applicants, but it is in budget as a max amount. Dr. Lipp indicated that Spring Hill gave us three scholarships last year. Mrs. Prosser reported that the craft fair volunteer was a recipient and thanked us for it, and will use it; he was very appreciative. Mrs. Hyland asked who decides who gets the scholarships. Mrs. Prosser indicated that the recipient or the recipient's family has to be a PTSO member. Mrs. MacDonald reported that the PTSO does not decide; other scholarships are a work in progress and she is doing research. Mrs. MacDonald explained that there will be a blind selection by a committee including members from in and out of the school. Mrs. Henderson asked whether the PTSO been approached about the turf field. Dr. Lipp explained that the booster club is in charge and they are waiting for the county to decide how they are going to do it. Leah Conte has set it up and is taking up donations. How will they allocate money? Ronni Jillions stated that Hayfield is also looking for turf, and asked if all county high schools were doing it. Dr. Lipp responded that some already have, the county asked that a school put in at least two turf fields as a package. Mike Stern asked what are turf fields? Dr. Lipp explained that for various fields, when SOCO goes to competitions, our teams are disadvantaged because of non-turf practice; the school is trying to raise money to install turf. Page 3

Mrs. Archer explained that the voting on the budget is on the big line items, and that ANGP is free to do what it wants. Mrs. Hyland made a motion to approve. Mrs. Gorski seconded. The motion passed, with Mrs. Henderson voting against it. Mrs. Archer gave the treasurers report on the detailed line items. The ANGP has sold some tickets and paid a deposit for the entertainment. They brought in $1600. Mrs. Archer reported that the Men's Warehouse income accidentally got deposited into school account and will come back to the PTSO in time. Mrs. Archer reported that the membership committed deposited another $5K after the report was run. Committee Reports:

 Mrs. Gorski reported on membership: as of today, there are a total of 538 members - 326 adults, 167 kids, 45 staff, and donations of $360, total revenue - $6420. Janice Myers is determined to get to $10000. We put on this year's membership form a place to sign up for Giant and received 72 numbers. Online 16/34 people gave their numbers. Mrs. Jillions asked what we can do to sign more of the staff members. Dr. Lipp explained that they were looking for an increase in sign ups at back to school night. Mrs. Gorski puts stickers on mailboxes of members, so there is some peer pressure. Mrs. Gorski reported that several new staff members have joined. Dr. Lipp put membership flyers in the back to school night mailings which will get us more members. Dr. Lipp indicated that the PTSO gets to advertise in the mailings because it is affiliated with school, but private companys could not. Mrs. Hyland stated that at Silverbrook, the flyer reminds people to bring their check books. Mrs. Gorski reported that they gave out Great Harvest Bread coupons for a free loaf of bread which helped encourage people. She had 250 coupons, and only has 20 left.  Giant – Aplus – the committee chair could not make it, so Mrs. Prosser gave the report. Kids helped getting giant numbers at Stallion Stampede. We had about 148 to date. Mrs. Jillions asked if you can use our phone numbers to sign up. Mrs. Archer says that the Giant year starts 10/1/13; a letter is to go into the Crosspointe Chronicle, which should have a link to where you can find your Giant card number with phone numbers. Look on the Giant website, but not until 10/1. Mrs. Prosser explained that the money comes to the school, not to the PTSO.  AGNP – Elena Jordon, Sally Rocke – co-chairs. Holiday craft show – Liz Mullany and Denise Krein – co-chairs. They need help. The Restaurant Night chair – we are approved to have the receipts dropped off at the Office, but have to set up a specific night to celebrate SOCO; Jr. parents set up; publicity/advertising; clean-up; prizes. You don't have to be a senior parent to volunteer. There is senior parent meeting on Wednesday. Sales for magnets, lawns, ornaments, are going well. People will be at football games, back to school night, senior parent nights; everywhere we can. The senior yard sale is 10/5, and ANGP will be there in a booth. Donations welcome. You can also buy a spot. Looking for volunteers for the Craftsman classic, 10/19-20, at Dulles Expo – it is a juried arts/crafts show. Mrs. MacDonald stated that if you work a shift, you can get in free. ANGP earns money by having volunteers, who sit at vendors booths. Mrs. Rocke indicated that a signup genius notice will go out. Mrs. MacDonald asked how many people go to the link for Amazon on the website to shop. She reminded people that when you use the link, 4-15% of sales come to the PTSO. The price paid is the same and the PTSO gets monthly report. Mrs. Hyland Page 4

asked if you save items, do you get the contribution if you come back through the link.

Principal’s Report:  Dr. Lipp thanked the PTSO for feeding the staff. It was very appreciated. She also thanked everyone for the help at Stallion Stampede. Mrs. Packer met with students in the spring to discuss procedures, which was helpful. The final certified student count is 2076 . Friday night football game had 11-12K attendees. It was a great night. Keepintouch emails are going out reminding about senior night, Wed. 6:30- 8:00 . back to school night is 9/25 – doors open at 6, starts at 7. They will play the school board members in video, but politicians must stay a certain distance from the school. Dr. Lipp thanked everyone for their support. They did not have as hectic a summer, because of last years reorganization. The school opened full with no teaching vacancies.

Unfinished Business:  None

New Business:  None

Announcements:  October 8 meeting at 8-9 in the morning - par of the Principal's Coffee.

Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.

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