Romig Middle School PTSA Board Meeting

October 16, 2008

Attendance:

Valerie Marks (President), Jenny Redick, Alicia de la Cruz, Sven Gustafson, Keri Barter, Kathy Clawson, Janice Torres, Kristine Masneri, Rochene Hellen

Call to Order:

The meeting was called to order at 8:16 a.m.

Approval of Minutes:

Minutes from the meeting on September 18, 2008, were approved.

Student Report:

Beginning at this meeting, the PTSA board will regularly be joined by students from the Student Advisory Board (SAB), who will make a report. This month, these representatives were Jessica from the Eklutna team and Junior from the Kennicott team. The SAB is currently trying to organize an after-school dance club and a spirit week in November with special days (such as dress-up days). The SAB is choosing a yearbook cover next month and planning a charity event for the holiday season. Student representatives went to the first district meeting, which was mostly introductions; next time, more business will be conducted. The goal of SAB is to get students excited about coming to school by having fun activities. Regarding the after-school dance club, SAB is writing a proposal for the club and looking for a teacher sponsor. The club will focus on hip hop and breakdancing. A lot of students are interested in participating in this club.

Teacherπs Report:

Keri Barter and Kathy Clawson from the language arts department attended the meeting. Valerie asked the teachers to bring ideas to the board about how we can help all students.

Presidentπs Report:

Valerie attended a recent PTSA training and received information about her role as president. For example, Principal Gustafson needs to approve the agenda, and she will be keeping in closer communication with him. In addition, the president needs to make sure that the PTSA taxes, insurance, and dues are paid. Valerie asked that Janice Torres put together a procedure book for the cake auction, which has already been done. She also asked the other board members to write up procedure statements for their positions.

Treasurerπs Report:

PTSA has $8100 in the bank. New donations have come in, including money from Alyeska that was anticipated last year. PTSA still needs to make the insurance payment.

eScrip Update:

The eScrip total in August was approximately 7,000. We have added seven new people. The board addressed the question of how we can increase the number of participants, and the following ideas were offered:

• PTSA can have a table set up during conference week, possibly with computers available. Principal Gustafson will provide a TA to help.
• Students can run a table at Carrs and earn volunteer hours for NJHS. Ms. Clawson will take this idea to the Honor Society, and Rochene will call Carrs about setting this up, possibly for one day per week from 3-5 p.m. for one month. Ms. Barter suggested being there on different days of the week to access different shoppers.
• Rochene will attend the next staff meeting to remind staff members about signing up themselves.

Principalπs Report:

• Lifeline Cellular has become a school-business partner for Romig and will provide cell phones for needy families.
• Dr. Wells at Alaska Premier Dental is another school-business partner, and he will provide screenings for homeless students.
• A social work from Alaska Regional Hospital runs a cancer support group that is attended by 8-10 participants this year. The group meets at lunch for healthy food and has an approved curriculum.
• Last Friday, 7^th graders had their final AVB (Aggressors-Victims-Bystanders) lesson. Acapella group Impulse from Minnesota performed for 7^th graders and worked with the Romig choirs.
• Romig now has a second social worker, Lisa Wilson, on staff. She will be here for the rest of the year, and next year she will be at Clark Middle School. As she is transitioning to Clark, she will work mainly with Clark students at Romig during second semester.
• A new special education TA has been hired.
• Principal Gustafsonπs goal sheets have been changed in response to input, and the final drafts will go out in the next newsletter.

New Business:

1) In response to PTSA boardπs request for more information from the nursing/social work department about their needs, Romig social worker Kristine Masneri spoke very movingly about the challenges facing the Romig student population, including poverty and homelessness. These challenges are increasing, as are the number of students needing assistance. Currently, 55% of the Romig student population experiences poverty, and assisting them benefits all students and teachers. Rochene requested a list of items that would be beneficial to request for donation.

2) Sue Urig would like a ≥basic needs≤ subcommittee to be formed that she would head. She received a $75 donation from Fred Meyer, and she needs to be under the auspices of the PTSA for the tax ID#. Her husband, Jim Kubitz, has applied for a grant from the Alaska Railroad and hopes to receive $300 for bus tokens. Ms. Masneri has made a list of needed items for Sue that she will give to Rochene Hellen, who will represent this subcommittee at PTSA board meetings. These needs include money for gas cards so that parents can attend conferences.

∑ Rochene moved to form this subcommittee, and Jenny seconded this motion. The motion passed.

3) In the near future, Romig will be running a coat drive for winter coats. The coats will be cleaned and, in consideration of student self-esteem, will be exchanged with coats from a similar drive at Hanshew Middle School prior to being dispersed to needy students.

4) PTSA goals and objectives need to be addressed at the next meeting.

5) PTSA should send thank-you cards to people who donated to the ≥No Sale Fundraiser.≤ Jenny agreed to do this after receiving donor information from Alicia.

6) The PTSA will staff a table at conferences and hand out reflector tape and information on the ≥No Sale Fundraiser.≤ Valerie will contact our volunteer coordinators and ask them to find people to staff the table.

∑ Valerie proposed that we spend $300 to feed the teachers during conference week, as we have done in the past. This motion passed.

Grant Applications:

1) The grant request submitted at the last meeting by Kristine Masneri for $800 for the social work department was revisited.

∑ This request passed unanimously. Rochene will email PTSA members to request donations.

2) Mr. Rothmanπs grant request (presented at the last meeting) for $2995 to purchase a classroom set of ≥clickers≤ was tabled for future consideration.

3) Janet Hepplewhite, Meg Coe, and Nancy Hansen requested $500 to support two sessions of Girls Group, which will provide an opportunity for students who have not made connections at Romig to connect with each other.

∑ This grant request passed unanimously.

4) Mr. Gustafson and Anaely Hernandez requested $1100 to help students with the cost of traveling to Puerto Rico during spring break of 2009. This was an amazing trip last year, and the students are working hard at fundraising themselves.

∑ This grant request passed unanimously.

The meeting adjourned at 9:28 a.m.

Submitted by: Jenny Redick, PTSA Secretary