Pierce School PTO Minutes - February 2007

February 7, 2007, PTO Minutes

In attendance: David Weinstein, Tammy Texiera, Ellen Ball, Laurence Mialot, Pipier Smith-Mumford, Laurence Mialot, Nicole Lapidus, Chandlee Dickey, Josh Frank, Ginny Carroll, Colleen Muldoon, Valerie Emmerich, Leslie Fagen, Katie Grissle, Shirley Re, Nancy Springer

Co-chairs’ report:

1. Discussed the upcoming spelling bee: there will be teams of 5^th graders, administrators from the town, and parents. Adult team may be called the Pierce Pride.
2. We are looking to teachers to have their students present their work at upcoming PTO meetings in order to increase attendance and so that we can see more of the wonderful things our students are doing.
3. Budget update for 2007: spending has been frozen.
1. Circuit Breaker has been changed. It used to cover special ed, especially for sending students out of district as their special needs require. In the past Circuit Breaker would cover 75% over $33,000. This funding may be lost.

b. 2^nd quarter costs higher due to higher enrollment

c. Substitute teacher costs are higher than predicted

d. Transportation costs higher

e. Likely we will need to curtail spending for non- salaried employees

f. Budget will be formalized on March 7.

Treasurer’s report

1. Only 1 item was submitted which was approved prior to this meeting.

Principal’s report

1. PSED: concerned about growing enrollment and the repercussions for PSED, especially in terms of space. In addition, we have one of the largest waiting lists for families to get into PSED. We are trying to make it so there will not be shared space with PSED and regular classes. Dr. Lupini suggested a trailer for additional space.
2. It is anticipated that there will be a 4^th kindergarten class again next year.
3. We may be upgrading the 7 & 8 th grade science lab.
4. Kindergarten enrollment is next week.
5. Staff are excited about the upcoming auction and the web page listing items available.
6. Former teacher is providing a special Valentine’s Day breakfast for the teachers.
7. PTO community breakfast next Thursday. Dr. Lupini may come for coffee.
8. Facility subgroup will be hosting the town to look at our facilities (hopefully in the rain).
9. Chinese New Year’s assembly coming soon.
10. March 14 is School Council input night for improvement ideas. 6-8^th graders will also participate. This is important as ideas generated from this gathering will help formulate the School Council’s goals for the coming year.
11. March 7 continuation of the Courageous Conversations. At the last Principal’s Forum, 55 people participated with more diversity. It was very successful as parents and teachers talked in small groups, across grades. These Conversations will continue. At the next Conversation, Cinderella and Me will be shown. Cinderella and Me is a short, 12 minute video about a puppet of color distressed that all the Cinderella books show girls with yellow hair and blue eyes and don’t look like her. She has a Courageous Conversation with the librarian and develops a plan to help her feel more confident.
12. Urban improve turn out for parents was small (10). Students have really gained a lot from it. This is a powerful way for students to feel more confident about what they know and to act on it. It occurred over 5 Thursdays for 1 ½ hours each.
13. The issue was raised about how we can encourage our upper grade students to continue to talk to the adults in their lives in the wake of the Lincoln Sudbury school tragedy. Pierce is fortunate in that it is a K-8 school so that the kids know the teachers and staff for 9 years. In addition, the school is offering to be a neutral space for parents to come together to talk with each other about their kids and their concerns about their development. An announcement will be coming out about an upcoming opportunity of having parents get together.
14. Movie night was a huge success.