Main Minutes Page | Home
Willard PTA Meeting Highlights October 3, 2006

Next Meeting Date: Wed Nov 8 at 6:30 p.m. following joint pizza dinner at 6 p.m. with Mentor program participants

Important dates coming up:
  • October 26: School Science Night, with brief PTA meeting to start
  • October 27: End of first grading quarter
  • Nov. 2, 7, 9: Minimum days with early release at 12:20 pm
  • Parent/teacher conference days: Nov. 2 from 1 - 7 pm; Nov. 7 from 1 - 5 pm

Incoming Co-Presidents Angelic Ervin and Margit Birge welcomed us. A mix of parents from the 6th, 7th and 8th grades were present.

Please let Angelic and Margit know ahead of time about agenda items to keep meetings short.

Minutes from the September 18, 2006 meeting were approved. It was decided there was a need for further discussion about how best to disseminate minutes to members.

Principal's Report
Ideas of useful spending for the PTA to consider:
  • Mini-grants to teachers for supplies and expenses, as teachers often pay for these items themselves. This has been included in the PTA budget in recent years.
  • A marquee for messages to students/parents (approximately $3,000)
  • Funds for tutoring done after school by teachers
  • Dinner dance for 8th graders
  • Lifeguards at the pool for the spring (fall is being paid for by the District)
  • Garden program
Other business:
  • Tutoring orientation meeting for the "Math Works" program is being held soon. Alumni of Willard and Berkeley High students will tutor kids in math as part of this program.
  • 7th/8th Grade Dance on Sept. 29th went very well. Sixteen parents were there to help out, and made a big difference. Thanks to all.

PTA 06-07 Budget Discussion:
Mark Shaw, Treasurer, presented the proposed budget. Projected revenue for 06-07 is $17,600 and projected budget is $22,150. Mark recommended reducing the current reserve of $15,000 by $5,000 as reflected in the proposed budget. The large categories of budget expenses include $12,600 for staff support, $4,100 for student support and $3,700 for PTA & Community Support.

Discussion included:
  • Fundraising Committee so far is composed of Hilary Kitka and Susan Butler, who would like to have more members as well.
  • Is it worth it to continue the Cody's fundraiser since the Cody's store on Telegraph has closed? Fundraising Committee will explore further and pursue it if it seems worthwhile.
  • David Walton will oversee the Fall Appeal this year.
  • How best to get word out about events/fundraisers/etc? Approximately 70% have access to the Internet/email at home, and 30% do not. About 100-150 people currently subscribe to the etree with some more names in the process of being added. Difficult to send word via handouts as kids often misplace these. Phone messages are relayed to all families, although just to the main number listed for each student.
  • Helpful if the Principal and teachers can pass on information to the PTA about where funds are most needed.
Upcoming expenses include:
  • Directory: Fred Huxley described layout for this year's Directory, which he hopes to have completed by winter break or possibly Thanksgiving. A student competition for the cover art is planned, with a cash award to the winner. 200 Directories will be printed. Proposed spending is $500 as a working budget (vs. $800 budgeted last year). Advertising was discussed but was postponed in the interest of getting the Directory out quickly.
  • Newsletter: Marjorie Alvord proposed a budget of $1,200 (same as last year), with plans for 6 issues of an 8-page newsletter. Cost for first class postage is $180 per issue. Printing will be done at the District publishing office if it is not too difficult to get a purchase order.
  • Garden Program: Matt Tsang reported the Gardening program needs funding support as his position is funded at 80% and he has only one aide rather than the two he needs (and had last year). The funding gap is $12,000. Matt asked the PTA to consider helping with a portion of this need for this year or next year.
  • Mini-grants: Proposal was made that the PTA approve $6,000 of mini-grants so the process of asking teachers for proposals may begin.
Budget Approval Motion: A motion was made and seconded that the PTA approve the proposed 06-07 budget so we can pay immediate expenses, with the understanding that we will revisit it in the future. This motion passed.