Garden City PTO Meeting

Monday, December 13, 2004; 6:30 p.m.  

M I N U T E S

Present: Parent/guardian representatives from about eight families; Nancy Wavrin, Principal; Nan Brown, Intervention Specialist; Tracy Corwin, PTO Vice President; Mary Hughes, PTO Treasurer; Kim Graske, PTO Secretary.

Welcome/Introductions

The group talked about how they do or don’t celebrate winter holidays.

Minutes Approval

No changes were made to the November Minutes. A motion was made, seconded and passed to approve the minutes as submitted.

Treasurer’s Report and Fundraising

Mary Hughes informed us that over $200 in bad checks and associated fees came out of the Club Choice fundraiser. She will attempt to collect the money from the issuers.

Mary Hughes proposed getting IRS tax-exempt status filed. This should make getting donations easier. A motion was made, seconded and passed to spend the money necessary to file for tax-exempt status.

Tracy Corwin reported on the disappointing Barnes and Noble gift-wrapping fundraiser that was done at Brookdale on December 11. Lots of wrapping was done, but only $2.25 was donated for all the work. Another such wrapping fundraiser that is scheduled for the coming weekend will be cancelled.

A spaghetti dinner fundraiser and presentation will be held Monday, January 10, instead of the regular PTO meeting. Meal prices were discussed. Mary Cecconi, from a public education advocacy group, will be speaking about education funding after the dinner. Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park city officials, along with Osseo school district leadership, will be invited. The event will be advertised in the Sun newspaper and on local cable.

Site Council Report

The School Improvement Plan has been finalized. Funding for a .2 social worker for non-Special Education students has been approved. The Targeted Services program was discussed. The group is seeking feedback regarding expectations for the site council and the school’s role in the community.

An acoustical evaluation was done in the school lunchroom last month. Because the acoustics are bad, it seems even louder than it is in the lunchroom. Silent lunch remains a concern for several parent/guardians. The reason for silent lunch has been changed from the cooks and cashier not being able to hear to that some kids won’t eat enough if they are allowed to talk. Concern was expressed about the lack of socialization. Nan Brown reported that we are not the only school that has silent lunch; other schools in the district also have such a policy, particularly low-income schools. This was also a concern for some parents who believe it is unjust that kids from richer schools get to talk at lunch, while kids from poorer schools, including ours, don’t. The kitchen will be remodeled this summer. Garden City will ask the district for money to buy and install acoustical tiles, but it is unknown whether silent lunch will continue.

Families of Garden City (PTO) Constitution

Kari Lindholm-Johnson provided a new revised copy. The group made more revisions. Changes included but were not limited to ‘PTO,’ not ‘PTA,’ and officer position descriptions. Language and ethnic group representation was discussed, and cannot be mandated, although wording will be changed from ‘shall’ to ‘may’ in regard to at-large representation.

Principal’s Report

Garden City will conduct several parent/guardian focus groups after the winter break. A survey will be used to determine satisfaction levels with the school. Childcare may be offered at some of the sessions, and some of the sessions will be during conferences. The Book Fair will be scheduled during and around conferences as well.

Additional Comments

Many programs sponsored by PTO are likely to be cut next year due to the lack of funds available.

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The next regular PTO meeting is Monday, February 7. There will be no regular PTO meeting in January; the spaghetti dinner fundraiser and school funding presentation will be held instead. Regular PTO meetings throughout the year will usually be scheduled on the second Monday of each month.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Kim Graske

PTO Secretary