PTO Meeting Minutes

PTO Meeting - November 8th, 2007

The meeting was called to order at 7:20pm.

Approximately 15 people were in attendance.

K-8 enrollment decreased in SPS for the first time in many years
Real estate market may be the biggest factor
Curtis has the most pressure from enrollment/space issues as several large cohorts will be coming into Curtis in the next few years
The elementary schools (other than Noyes) and the middle school all have space issues
SPS and the school committee always are looking at space with all possible solutions on the table (although some are not preferred) including redistricting, modular classrooms, “teachers on carts”, teaching team models at Curtis, etc.
Full day kindergarten is a district goal but is problematic due to the space restrictions

SPS benchmarks against other peer schools to check expenditures, teacher salaries, MCAS results, demographics, etc. Note that very few districts are K-8 like we are so some financial info is hard to compare.
Dr. Brackett handed out a comparison sheet with various line items demonstrating the above benchmarks

Overall favorable results
Still disappointed in the gaps for the special ed population and the METCO population
Detailed analysis still in the works. Joni did a great job drilling down into the data last year and has set a new standard for SPS.

One day will be at the Joppa Flats Ed/Wildlife Center where students will study coastal environment and some oceanography
One day will by physical science study at the camp
One day will be Project Adventure/ team building at the camp

The overnight portion of the trip will be encouraged but optional as transportation will be provided back to Sudbury each day
Objective of the trip is full inclusion and total accessibility for all students
Camp has a full-time nurse and an infirmary available to SPS

As a better way to serve some specific special ed situations certain cohorts are grouped together in one school rather than sent out of district (i.e. to a private school)

Loring hosts a K-1 and 2-3 language based/developmentally delayed program
Loring hosts the K-4 Partner’s program with the New England Children Center
Haynes hosts the grade 4-5 language based program
Noyes hosts the K Foundation program
Nixon hosts the new Access Program. Has 6 students grades 2-4. All students are assigned to a regular classroom but also spend time in the Access room. There is a teacher, two assistant teachers, and a part-time psychologist assigned.
Curtis has a continuation of the language based programs for 6-8 and also the Leap program for cognitively challenged students.

$11,700 YTD fundraising
Direct appeal money has started to come in. So far average contribution is $120 - up from $80 last year. Hoping that parents appreciate that we have focused our fundraising efforts this year (i.e. no gift wrap, note cards, etc) and will contribute generously to direct appeal and auction. A Thursday Notice reminder will be posted soon.
Note that there is some field trip money that the PTO has fronted but will be reimbursed by the Town of Sudbury.

Co-Presidents’ Report

Meeting with Nixon school administration and Anne Chabot to discuss what we can do
#1 thing is hand washing – kids are not doing this as often as we would like
Hand sanitizers are an option. Nixon would like to install a dispenser in each classroom so that students and staff can use the sanitizer twice a day (before lunch and before snack). The sanitizer would be used in a supervised environment, not in the restrooms. A motion to have the PTO spend up to $2,000 to purchase push-bar dispensers and sanitizer refill for this school year was made. Voted and approved. Jamie Vandervelden to do some more research on brands and costs and then we will go forward with this initiative.
Cafeteria tables are currently being washed with a soap and water solution, but they are never actually disinfected. Michelle showed us a new product called Clorox Anywhere Hard Surface cleaner which has a diluted bleach solution and is much less stringent than the wipes we used to use. She is looking into the cost of this product and other alternatives. We would like to have the tables disinfected after the last lunch each day.

The Wayside Inn has qualified for a National Endowment for the Arts/ Poetry Foundation grant of $15,000 to celebrate Longfellow’s 201st birthday. This is the inaugural grant of the NEA’s Big Read program to celebrate great American poets and the historic poetry locales. The grant will support community-wide programs to encourage multi-generational reading of his poetry. The Inn needs to match the $15,000.
The Inn has asked each PTO to donate $1,500. Each school would then have a speaker/author come to each school for an assembly and books for each grade level would be purchased. The books have been selected by the ELA specialist, Jan Binus, to coordinate with curriculum. Laura and Michelle will look into sources to fund this including proceeds from the Spring Book Fair that may be in the town account, extra budget from the Geography Expedition since it was issued on-line and not printed and perhaps funds from the Educational Enrichment budget.

This weekend will be the Harlem Wizard v. the SPS teachers in a basketball game. Basically it is sold out. Autographs will be after the game. Mr. Manuel and Officer Rocky will play; Tracy Berry will be a cheerleader.

Monster Mash: It was a huge success. Thank you committee chairs and volunteers!
Geography Expedition: Is now available on-line with a Revolutionary War theme.
Book Fair: Has been successful as we have qualified for $500 of free books. Note that the overall numbers are down this year because decided not to sell Webkinz.
Community Service: Next food pantry collection will be on 11/9. Fabulous result last month as we had a record collection. Pat Mullen, director of the Sudbury Food Pantry, will be speaking to the students at the 11/30 school meeting. Dianne Brown has taken pictures of the food pantry and the 3rd graders doing the monthly collection to include in that presentation.
Literacy Night: Still looking for another co-chair

The next PTO meeting will be at 9:15 am on Thursday January 3.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00pm.