Gunderson High School PTSA minutes of

March 09, 2006

Members Present:  Mary Olson, Darlene Cisneroz, Marie Boyle, Ingeborg Jakobson, Jeanette Harding, Cary Catching, Irma Puentes, Linda Gregory, Joyce Van De Pitte

Meeting began at 7:10pm

The minutes from the previous meeting were passed out and read.  There were no additions or corrections.  Mary moved to accept the minutes.  Darlene second the motion.  Motion passed.

The Principal’s report by Cary Catching:

On Monday 3/06, there was a Community Conversation meeting.  The topic was “Creating a College Ggoing Culture”.  The group included administrators, five teachers and five parents.  The group looked at the things that are being done to promote the topic and assessed which area they were meeting the goals and which are needed improvement.  Mrs. Catching handed out an outline and graded each component with a plus or minus to signify on target or needs improving. Goals and implementation were discussed.

The contractor has released the baseball field for use.  The grass root is about eleven inches.  The targeted release size is twelve inches.  The remaining field will be released in April or May.  The roots are still only eight inches.  Some minor things need to be corrected, such as the hinges on the batting tunnel.  The walkway needs to be dug up to install wiring.  It was scheduled for this week. Mrs. Catching will meet with the contractors to find out when it will be done.  A courtyard is planned for that area as well. 

A list of students can benefit from summer school is being compiled.  Some seniors will need to take summer school classes.

Gunderson students have taken the exit exam very seriously, spending the allotted time to review their answers.  There is discussion of how to address the students who are seniors, have taken the test several times and have not passed the exit exam. Gunderson has four seniors that need to pass the exam.  District wide there are about twelve students.  English learners and special education students are mainly the ones who have not passed.  The state is being sued over the validity of the exit exam.  Meanwhile the district may issue certificates to the seniors and allow them to participate in the ceremony, however they will need to attend a summer help program and take the exam afterwards.  The board may also be able to issue waivers.

The first Student of the Month event was very successful.  Forty three students were nominated.  They and their parents attended a reception.  The students received a certificate and had their picture taken with the principal.  The event was video taped and aired on the plasma screens.  The students really enjoyed the event and the video show.  Ms. Catching will try to arrange a tape to show at the next PTSA meeting.

The auditor, Darlene Cisneroz, read the official report finding the accounting to be correct from the mid-year audit of the PTSA books.  Linda moved to accept the report.  Mary seconded the motion.  Motion passed. 

The treasurer’s report by Joyce had one deposit from the Barnes and Noble fundraiser.  Mary submitted a check for $100.00 from the 6th district PTA towards insurance.  Mary submitted a bill of $437.65 for Academic Honors Night and a refund to Booster for $200 for an unclaimed scholarship from last year.  Cary moved to reimburse Mary.  Joyce seconded the motion. All in favor.  Mary moved to refund Booster.  Joyce second the motion.  All in favor.  The upcoming bills for the remainder for Academic Honors night will be higher than last year because Mary ordered enough for next year to assist the new board and to save on shipping costs. The medallions from Josten’s will cost up to $450.00.  Joyce motioned to approve the expenditure.  Cary seconded the motion.  All in favor.

 Parents attending Academic Honors night are asked to bring a plate of finger food for the reception.  Ingeborg volunteered to make 4 dozen cupcakes.  Joyce will buy several platters of food for the reception to supplement what parents bring.

At the PTA council meeting, the report is that there will be no parcel tax on the June ballot.  It may be on the November ballot.  Based on the governor’s budget there may be categorical funding flexibility.  The news will be released in May.  Ms. Catching informed us that the board will need to make cuts but it will not be as severe as in years past.  Teachers are never on the chopping block.  Administrators and support staff are. The district has been funding employee benefits fully.   Benefit plans will change by including co-payments for employees and their dependents. There will also be a flat rate for dependents on the benefits package.  This has an immediate savings of 3 million dollars.  Employee records have been reviewed.  Some employees who are separated or divorced have kept there spouses on the plan and/or children that do not attend school has been made known.  The district has been able to eliminate 600 hundred people off the benefits plan. 

Marie brought up discussion on improving membership by having tea and reception, door prizes, guest speakers.  She mentioned wanting a student and teacher member.  Ms. Catching suggested the best time to recruit teacher and student member is in the fall.  She will provide PTSA an opportunity to speak to teachers during one of the fall Inservice Days, before the first day of school. She suggested that next year’s Leadership Class would be a likely source of a student representative. Community service hours may be given to student at large member, as long as they are not also receiving class credit.  If the member is part of  Leadership and will get project credit for class, then no community service will be given.

Mary read the slate of nominees for next year’s PTSA board.

President:            Marie Boyle

Vice-President Ingeborg Jakobson

Treasurer:             Irma Puentes

Secretary:            Leslie Dornell

Auditor:            Laura Probert

The vote will be at the next meeting. 

Mary passed out the membership form for the nominees to review and submit changes for next year.   PTSA want to be included in the Grizzly  Pride package. Mrs. Catching is still working on the details of next year’s package.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:15pm