October 4, 2005 Parent Forum Meeting
Meeting opened at 5:30. We went around room introducing ourselves, who are child is/grade and reason for being there.

Agenda voted on and passed to accept.
Leslie Gale and Kathy Curtis-Johnson agreed to co-secretary.
&Mac197;(Do I have all the people right?)Other positions:
Rep: Susan Niman
George Bryson-Alternate
Vicki Smith
Teresa Scott

Treasurer
Tracking
A tracking system of some kind is needed.
The Parent forum has never had a budget.
Not for Profit or Nonprofit status brought up
At meeting.
ñReasons for going Not for Profit/ Non Profit 501C and 503 status.
ñOther schools in the district have changed to this
ñTracts money easier
ñDecreases work for Steller administrative assistant/secretary
ñ Allows for parent forum to go after much needed money grants
ñ Motion made and passed for Mary Tanner to research Not for Profit/Non Profits and how this will fit the Parent Forum mission.
ñ Shannon, is researching acceptability for Parent Forum and some Steller teachers to aim for same grants.
ñ Question Reason for grant opportunity?
goals to support students and staff





Seed Money
&Staff Supply Budget decreased 10% due to ASD budget cuts
Nest Egg: teacher wish list to enrich the classroom
Not all teachers used all money resources from last year's auction “nest egg wishes”
ÆMoney broken down to cover following costs:
Each Staff: $130.00
Æ10% Year Books due to high cost and low student population
Æ50/50 scholarships for intensives and computer/technology related

Money Collection for Steller funds changed
&Mac249; New way to bring in money decided this year.
&Mac249; Auctions have been done in the past. Not best way to use parent volunteer time and resources
&Mac249; New idea is to ask parents for $50.00 per student. This would bring in $30,000. This is double what auction would bring in!!!

Strategy Plan Process
&Mac182;Gary Steele
&Mac182;Last Jan/Feb 2005 Strategy Plan began
&Mac182;Adhoc special committee made up by students, staff and parents
met one time over the summer
&Mac182;Draft to formulize?
&Mac182;Next step for Strategy Plan: Intermediate students/group to view
&Mac182;Principal to use strategy goals plan for school goal
A “BHAG”

Parent Representation on Advisory Board
&Mac254; 7 parents on board with 4 alternates
&Mac254; 2 are new
&Mac254; 5 are returning



Old Business
Money Once Again
±Teacher supply cut 10 %
±3rd time in 5 years
±Due to decrease in supply fund, some classes require a fee.
±In past, Parent Forum has used monies from auction to supplement supply fund/ special items for teacher called the nest egg.
±Next meeting 5 to 6 people to put budget together which is based on past history of Parent Forum.
±Motion made to spend $400 of Parent Forum money on general office supplies to be used for fundraising letters, etc.. Passed

7th Grade Registration
It seems students had various experiences.
Mass chaos
Parent's role better defined

Solutions:
û 7th graders register along
û Seniors buddy up with 7th graders. They are done registering before 7th graders begin.
û Teacher signs from above
û Info table manned by students and staff member
û No line holding
ûAll rules posted at door
û Rules are organically done by students
û During 1st counseling group of year teachers discuss how to register.-Nina, Karin or Susan to discuss with staff.
Have a helper desk with master schedule, pencils, problem solvers (parent or elder students)






Early Drop Off
T7:30 -3:30 student can come into building.
TBefore this no staff supervision.
TParent pickup 15 minutes after last class-
TUnless student is involved with a staff person in their
classroom.

Discussion:
TSteller has a very small staff who currently wears many hats.
TTeachers asked to arrive early with an addendum. Presently
teachers already have a number of duties and presently do not
want this additional responsibility. Karen named at least 5.

TSharon Vassierre discussed this in the recent past. She will discuss this matter in November Parent Forum meeting.

TThe ASD requires each school to have a plan in place to address early arrival issues and how schools are supervising student.

TEugene the BPO cannot be used because he is not a certificated personnel.

Solutions:
ÎCommunity School- similar to Denali before and
after school program with computers and Spanish.
ÎAsk teachers to take a certain day, morning a month.
Î Parents monitor students at local coffee shop.
* Consider asking district for a 'security guard' who could perform other duties such as a morning study hall.

Directory of Volunteer Staff
—Alyse and Pat has spent time entering the parent volunteer sheets and directory sheets into a database which will go into notebooks and directories. In the past some parents were not called for volunteer duties. Hopefully now this won't happen due to this database which counseling group reps, teachers and other volunteer coordinators will use as they will all have access to this.. “


Fundraising Letter
Discussion:
PLetter to be sent out up for much debate. Decided to send out by Oct15.
PLetter is based on other school fundraising letters.
PReason for the supply list
PDescription of where money goes. I.e., year book, technology
PWhat goes in the letter:
PHistorical background of Parent Forum fundraising efforts.
PInclude nest egg-Teacher Wish List
PMotion made to include following line in newsletter:
PAsk employer to match funds. Passed
BP and other companies do this.
PMotion made to “accept the letter the officer's draft Ann and Joe send out no later than Oct 15.” Passed
PTiming coincides with PFD disbursements

Monthly Staff Lunch
RNina reported staff has greatly appreciated this.
RSuggested to host this on Mondays.
RCarol Waters has coordinated this in the past.
RShe will now be assisted by Deb Ward.

Blue Ribbon Award
CThis issue has been a hot topic within the Steller community.
Last year, there was much discussion about whether to enter into this award due to Steller philosophy about testing and NCLB. It was agreed at an All-Community to go ahead and apply and to make a public statement as a community (regarding testing, etc.) if Steller won the award.

Parent Volunteer Training
¯Ann McKay Bryson is giving a volunteer training in late October
to staff, liaisons, counseling groups. This training is to teach proficient way for maximum use of our parent volunteers.

Next Meeting will be Tuesday, November 1 at 5:30 p.m.

Meeting adjourned at 7:20.