PTO Board Meeting

PTO Board Meeting Bedford Hills Elementary School Monday, December 14, 2009 Minutes

Present: Myra Dendy, Judi Handel, Alisa Hite, Becky Giles, Rob Quel, John Richards, Lisa Pacot, Julie Gerhardt, Deedy Cleland, Kris Lloyd, Nancy Campbell, Jamie Moss, Jane Giavedoni, Liz Florio, Robin Edson, Rachel Mitchell

No visitor present.

Minutes from the November meeting were approved as is.

Treasurer: Judi Handel  $38,000 in bank – Money Market and Suntrust.

 Income from CB Fleet and t-shirts.

 Paid out Ron Clark Academy expense in long range section.

 $14,000 net income.

 If you want anything paid by end of year, get to Judi by this Wed.

 Purchases – contact Judy to get check and sales exemption letter. Debit card now available with Bedford Hills on it.

 Please be aware of copying expenses – budget is for $500 per year and we’ve spent $540 already.

Principal: Rob Quel  Ron Clark conference is Monday Feb. 15. Teachers leave Sunday and back Tuesday. Monday is a development day. Excited about what they will learn and share when they get back. TC Miller has different “Houses” and they compete for earning points.  A program is available to make better/safer routes to school. Interest in getting more kids to walk to school. Money available from VDOT to improve infrastructure. Does not include crossing guards.

 We have an exciting opportunity soon to be available to Bedford Hills students, so I am asking for a parent volunteer. The Region 2000 Technology Council has offered financial support for any school that wishes to form a team for the Junior FIRST Lego League. If you are unfamiliar with this program, the teams are composed of 2-6 children ages 6-9 and typically meet 6-8 times a season. The season begins in February and culminates with an exhibition event (non-competitive sharing and fun) in April. Junior FIRST teams will do basic research and build a solution to a challenge based on the theme “Smart Moves.” The building project uses the Junior FIRST Lego kit and WeDo software. If anyone is willing to be a parent coach or would like more information, please let me know.

 Judi Handel asked Rob to email her with this lego info.

 493 students. Keeps climbing.

 Budget cuts coming next year. School Board member Albert Billingsly shadowed Mr. Quel during National Education week. Mr. Quel told him a lot about our space issues, growing numbers, breakfast line, and lunch line. Someone came to observe later on pizza day.

 Mr. Quel apologized and thanked us for not calling to complain about the very late phone calls due to ice. Problem in the chain of communication.

 If you have coats to donate, please get them to Mr. Quel. Sizes 5 and up.

 Julie Gerhardt asked about outdoor recess – wanted children to get out and exercise whenever possible. Mr. Quel said there are some concerns about cold induced asthma. Guidelines are for 32 degrees with his discretion. Julie also expressed concern about movies during indoor recess – no exercise or stretching for the students. Mr. Quel said that the teachers don’t have much planning time and he protects lunch for them.

Assistant Principal: Faye James  No report.

President’s Report: Becky Giles  Friday is Open House 11-2pm. Please come to visit and bring a dish to share. $5 gift card for needy BHS family.

 Newsletter – Talked to Fed ex office and got a quote. Printing and mailing is $457.20 per issue – way too expensive.

 PTO paying for rooms in Atlanta for teacher conference. Freebee didn’t work out.

Superintendent Representative: Julie Gerhardt  No report

Teacher Representative: Nancy Campbell  Confirmed that teachers need to bring a dish if attending the OH Lunch on Friday, as well as the $5 gift card.

Kroger: Kate Melancon  No report

Campbell Soup: Shea Burdette  No report

Boxtops: April Tucker  No report

Food Lion/Direct TV: Nancy Winstead  $85, 213 enrolled shoppers

Tyson : Beth Houck  No report

Coke Rewards: Courtney Mitchell  No report

READ: Candi Crickenberger, Andrea Buck  No report

Accelerated Reader: Shari Bennett, Tammy Perdue, Laura Cudd  Thank you for help with store.

Field Day: Liz Florio, Ellen Sarantos, Amy Baugher, Tyler Potter  No report

Art: Jane Giavedoni, Erin Elwell  No report

Carnival: Julie Salmon, Courtney Mitchell, Beth Houck, Beth Kent  No report

Silent Auction: Sarah Dunlop, Denise Palys, Lauri Wynnyk, Amy Franzelas, Deedy Cleland  No report

Book Fair: Julie Gerhardt, Jean Fisher, Beth Walkup  50s Diner Theme lends itself to a fun dress-up day.

T-Shirts: Maureen O’Connell, Tammy Perdue  Working to sell more.

Membership: Andrea Adams, Amy Baugher  No report

Yard Sale: Jerusha Caldwell, Julie Gerhardt  No report

Roots to Shoots: Kris Lloyd, Jenny Tugman  Kris is offering forced bulbs for the classrooms. She will send an email to Nancy Campbell to forward to the teachers to see if interested.

Landscaping: Suzanne Calvert, Andrew Clark  No report

Playground: Tom Morris  Lake in courtyard from the rain. Suggests a French drain to fix. He can get someone to backhoe. Expense would be fabric and stone. Someone said Land Tech has children at BHS, possibly fabric from them? #1 stone at the bottom, then fabric, then small stone, then fabric, then soil. Probably one main trench and a few branches.  How much time to do? 2-3 days. Weather dependent.

 How much money? $600 a guess.

Yearbook: Liz Florio, Rachel Mitchell, Julie Salmon  Send along any pics. Thanks.

Newsletter: Cheryl Morris, Missy Cunningham  See Principal’s report.

Green Team: Jean Fisher, Julie Gerhardt, Chris Lloyd, Lauri Wynnyk  Thank You, Thank You, Thank You! Through your donations, we were able to fill 122 stockings (that's right, 122!) for the Salvation Army, surpassing our goal of 100! This is the most we have filled in the 4 years that we have been collecting. We want to say a heartfelt thank you to the BHS community for being so generous to those in need. As a reminder, these stockings will go to children in the Lynchburg area.

Our printer cartridge recycling program is going great! So far this year, you have donated 30 cartridges, that amounts to $90 in Staples store credit. So far we have used these funds to purchase recycled paper and other green items for the school to use. Thanks for keeping these out of the landfill and for helping the school! Keep them coming. If you want to see a list of acceptable cartridges, visithttp://www.staples.com/sbd/cre/products/3dollar_inkrecycle/ .

The November Green Team Project was a huge success. You donated 48 pairs of used athletic shoes! The school nurse was able to take 12 pair for the clinic closet. In order to save money on postage and to support a local organization, we chose to give Sports Outreach 19 pair of shoes that were in good condition. These will be sent to children in Africa. And finally, 17 pair will be sent to the Nike Reuse-a-Shoe program. These will be recycled into sports courts. If you want to watch a cool, short video on the process, click onwww.nikereuseashoe.com .

And finally... The Green Team January project is greeting card recycling. Place your used greeting cards in the Green Team container in the foyer and we will send them to St. Jude's Ranch for Children. They cut them up and make new cards which they sell to provide funds for the ranch. For more info, click on http://stjudesranch.org/help_card.php .

Signs in the parking lot to be posted. No idling – children breathing.

Recycled art contest coming - to be displayed at Family Fun Night.

WebSite/Emails: Chantelle Deddens, Deedy Cleland (Liason)

 Deedy Cleland is taking over as Liason.

 Pictures needed for bookfair, AR Store, Family Night.

Hospitality: Beth Simon, Wendy Podosek, Sarah Dunlop, Whitney Garrett, Kate Melancon  No report

School Supplies: John Richards  Information for the Kindergarten OH.

Kindergarten Open House: Adrienne Scruggs, Jamie Moss  January 26.

 Considering a snow date given the confusion last year.

 Tour, computer labs, teachers, Becky, Myra, violin.

 Library use to be worked out.

 Hospitality for refreshments – to discuss.

 Wondering if date of open house may not be ideal. Possibly better in the Fall for those choosing between public and private. Maybe early Nov. after Carnival – no earlier given busy calendar at school.

Volunteer and Room Parent Coordinator: Laurie Sommardahl, Sandy Stem  No report.

Family Fun Night: Debby Asbury, Lisa Pacot  No report

Ways and Means: Robin Edson  No report

CB Fleet - My Two Cents: Jane Giavedoni, Myra Dendy  30 volunteers participated in and completed a feminine spritz trial of a new product. The BHS PTO was paid $20/participant and a check was received for $600 earlier this month. Thanks to all the folks who participated, including BHS staff. We are truly a team at BHS!

Cookbook: Robin Edson, Kris Lloyd, Amy Gallagher  No report

Spring Fundraiser: Becky Giles, Sandy Stem, Deb McCarthy  Tabled to have a quorum.

 If we do it, mid-April.

SCA : Nancy Thompson

 No report

Old Business

New Business  Someone asked how the $5 gift cards are distributed. Mr. Quel gives them to a few needy families.

Next meeting Monday, January 11.

Meeting adjourned 8:00 PM Respectfully submitted by Alisa Hite