PTA Minutes Robert Gray Middle School

PTA Minutes – Wilson High School General Meeting, May 21, 2012 Wilson High School Cafeteria

Maureen Berrie-Lawson, Vice-President, called the meeting to order at 7pm.

In attendance: Leslie Baird, Leslie Starker, Maureen Berrie-Lawson, Ellen Singer, Susan Sanderson, Sue Brent, Peggy Dorf.

Quorum Met

Standing Rules

 Revised Standing Rules approved – changed text – Quorum: Quorum for each general meeting shall be a total of five (5) voting members - three (3) of whom are officers. Also raised annual dues – new rates are $28 for individual and $45 per couple.  Discussion – Increased dues will offset increasing Oregon and National PTA dues.

Action item: Minutes approved from Feb. 13, 2012 (General Meeting)

Elections – Maureen Berrie-Lawson

 It was decided to wait till the Fall for electing officers  Interested persons – Peggy Dorf and Carol Peterson. Possible suggestion for Auction Chair – Tadd and Wendy Davis. Board members will follow up with contacting persons as to their interest in the PTA.  Sue Brent will write a message about need for PTA board members and add this to the “Statements.”

Budget – Ellen Singer

 Some budget discrepancies that need to be investigated further, mostly Scrip  Scrip - from now on will accept only cash or check because of the credit card fees. There will be a 2 week hiatus from orders – no orders after June 15 for 2 weeks. The PTA has made about $1,000 - $2,000 profit this last year.  Advertising sales income made on School Directory.  PTA obtained monies from Auction – approx. $10,000 which included higher than previous years amounts for procured items, Wine Wall and Raffle.  Book Fair – not much made in sales. Suggestions – sell summer reading list books and college oriented books such as the “Princeton Review.”  Escrip – need to promote. Anyone can (and should) Link their debit and Credit Cards to Wilson H.S. through the Escrip website: www.escrip.com  Sample SAT’s – good profit from. We will hold 2 next year – on teacher planning days as there are no facility fees on those days.  Interest Income is from the Grad. Night Alumni CD. We still need to determine who this money belongs to. Potentially, WWHS Alumni Assn can help figure it out.  Bank Fees were approx. $1200 last year. Reduced this year by compliance training and working with USBank  Credit Card Fees - $2400 from Auction  Membership drive in the fall we can use credit cards – just in Sept. to avoid fees.  Grants - $1255 for the Turn it in Subscription. $3500 for the Math Cart. These were approved by the previous year’s board and paid out this year.  Education Night Speakers - $761.31. Food can come out of the hospitality budget next year.  Grants that were not paid out – Counseling request for monies - $200. Counselors never asked for check. Discussion about adding a line item for budget. It was decided not to do this. Ski team never asked for check for radios and gates – never turned in receipts. Grief counseling interns never turned in receipts for check. Gay/Straight Alliance didn’t ask for funds or turn in receipts for the shirts after the grant was approved.  Ellen wants to maintain at least a $7,000 carry over in funds to next school year.  Wilson Alumni Assoc. needs to locate someone responsible for the Grad. Night CD (matures Sept. 10) and find out what it needs to be used for. After 501C3 is obtained and bank account opened, Alumni Assoc. can accept funds from Wilson (that we are holding). At that time we can write a check to their account.  Interim budget approved.

Virtual Lobby Days/Volunteer Appreciation – Leslie Starker

 Oregon PTA – May 21 – 23. This is an online lobbying event. If this e-mail was not sent to all PTA members, we will forward it to general membership via Valeurie Friedman. This can also be added to the bulletin.  Volunteer Appreciation Event – 8:30am on Wednesday May 23 organized by WHS staff.

PTA Scholarship – Maureen Berrie-Lawson/Leslie Starker

 11 total applicants – 8 girls and 3 boys.  Change rules for next year so that winners are not announced till the Senior Awards Assembly.  Need to keep same verbiage on application packet as on the instructions for selecting recipients.  The committee suggested that recipients are chosen based not only on academic achievement and extra-curricular activity, but also on improvement, overcoming obstacles, personal growth, and work history. The committee determined that the most important factor in choosing recipients is presentation of a well-rounded application.  Discussion about keeping recipients to one boy and one girl. Committee determined it is best to keep the same arrangements.  The committee suggested raising the award to $1,000 per person for next year. This can be voted on at the Fall General Meeting.  Scholarship monies could be placed in a CD for interest gain.  Recipients gained unanimous approval by the committee.

Graduation Night – Susan Sanderson

 215 signed up. 10 remaining spots. 25 scholarships, so far.  Keeping to budget – many donors  Money will be left over for next year’s Grad. Night

Principal’s Report – Sue Brent

 Wilson will be adding back FTE from an original report of 7.76 that would be cut. Part of the loss in FTE is from enrollment drop of students. We will now be losing 3 FTE total. The student teacher ratio is supposed to be 1 teacher to 28 students but this is an average.  Sue attended a Sunday Night Foundation event. More donations were obtained.  Sue will be coordinating the Field Project for Wilson after she retires. Nike will donate $77,000 to the project to add turf and upgrade the Wilson field, if the rest of the cost can be fundraised – total cost is $1.6 million. Upgrades may include a new entrance and Snack Shack.  Thank You for teacher appreciation week. Wilson Student Leadership also assisted with this event by making door signs with quotes on them and handing out treats to staff.  US News and World Report study of colleges by state showed Wilson ranked 7th in State. This is based on: College Preparedness, Math and reading scores, percentage of students taking AP tests and student to teacher ratio.  53% of all Wilson students took AP tests last year.  State Testing – 96% of juniors who have taken the OAKS test met or exceeded in reading standard. 83% of students who have taken the math test have met or exceeded standards. Only 10% gap between highest and lowest scores. Wilson had an Outstanding state report card this year.

Announcements – Maureen Berrie-Lawson

 Fundraising night at Sasquatch’s Brewery tomorrow, 5/22– 15% of all sales after 5pm will go towards the Foundation.  Spring Grants Cycle is coming up.

Meeting adjourned at 8:30pm by President, Maureen Berrie-Lawson

Minutes respectfully submitted by Leslie Baird, Secretary