PTO Meeting Minutes

PTO Meeting - February 7th, 2008

General John Nixon Elementary School
PTO Meeting Minutes
February 7, 2008

 

The meeting was called to order at 9:20am

Approximately 15 people were in attendance.

 

Guest Speaker – Bob Kavanaugh and Donna Criswell

• Bob is the SPS Director of Technology and Donna is in charge of Technology in the Classroom
• SPS is currently revising the technology plan for the district
• Several pilots over the past few years:  Laptops in the classrooms, ipods for reading/ESL, ActivBoards in the classroom.   Bob noted that the boards have been an amazing success and thanked the PTOs for their support in purchasing them.  Ultimately would like to see them in grades 3 – 8, but will be a slow process due to costs (probably no budget until 2010)
• The computer labs throughout the district are being refreshed with new machines.
• Would like laptops in classrooms for teacher use.  This will also help with use of the United Streaming video subscription from Discovery Education which is used to download content which replaces films/videos on curriculum related subjects.
• The district is also updating policies for posting to websites.  Joni suggested that we add a signature on the forms sent to parents at the beginning of the school year stating “My child’s work may be posted on the Nixon and/or district website”. 

Treasurer’s Report

• $20, 092 YTD fundraising
• Direct appeal money still coming in.
• The PTO dinner/dance/auction is last big fundraiser

Co-Presidents’ Report

• Hand Sanitizer
• Has been installed in classrooms and specialist areas.  Students will be using twice a day (before lunch and before snack).
• Parents/students can request not to use it
• Does not replace regular hand washing – only a supplemental way to minimize the spread of germs.
• Lunch/Recess Volunteers
• Schedule is on-line.  Still need lots of coverage, especially for 4th and 5th grade.
• E-mail Jennifer Parr if you can help.
• Longfellow’s Big Read
• Christopher Bing will be at Nixon on 3/5 to discuss his illustrated book The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.  He will speak to grades 3 – 5.
• All grade levels have received books selected by the district ELA specialist, Jan Binus.
• Laptop for Treasurer
• Haven’t received a response from the posting.  Will need to purchase the laptop soon if continue to receive no offer from the posting.

Committee Reports

• Literacy Night:  Next week - February 12 from 6 – 8 pm.  Theme will be “All Roads Lead to Literacy”.  Still in need of volunteers to help at the event.
• Science Fair:  Will be held on March 19.  Planning meetings are underway.   Will need volunteers for that evening.  Goodnow Library event is March 1.  Website will be up soon for registration and information.  Several events will be held to encourage participation including an early release day session, making science project books available during regular library time, school meeting announcements/experiments and some special kindergarten information.
• Dinner Auction:  Price of admission is $50 and includes dinner and two drinks.  Some discussion on lowering the ticket price in the future and either not including drinks or doing hors d’eourves and apps instead of dinner to be more inclusive to the entire Nixon population.  Some feel that dinner is appropriate as drinking does take place, etc.  This year there will be an online component to the auction for people who cannot attend.  The committee will also publish the auction book online so people can see what is available and think about items they may like.  Committee is working with the school and teachers to come up with a wish list for the cash call portion of the auction as this was very successful last year (parents bought DVD/VCRs for each grade level last year).
• Recycling:  Marj Lustig is researching some new recycling programs to raise money for the school.  This includes cell phones, printer toner cartridges and old laptops.  More information to come.

Upcoming Meetings

• March 6:   Dr. Brackett to discuss the budget for next year at 7:15pm

 

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 10:45 a.m.