Garden City PTO Meeting

Monday, March 14, 2005; 6:30 p.m.  

M I N U T E S

Present: Parent/guardian representatives from about seven families; Tracy Corwin, PTO Vice President; Gary Weiser, Fourth Grade Teacher; Julie Linder, Volunteer Coordinator; Mary Hughes, PTO Treasurer; Kim Graske, PTO Secretary.

Nancy Wavrin was out on medical leave and Nan Brown was at the Education Commissioner’s meeting at Park Center High School

Minutes Approval

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

Treasurer’s Report

The spaghetti dinner in January made $91.

PTO balance is about $5,400; we should be at about $18,000.

Thanks to Kim Winkelman who wrote to the Firefighters asking for money for the dance/mini-carnival April 29. The Firefighters provided $750 that should cover all costs, including the DJ. No admission will be charged for the dance so that everyone can attend; there will be costs for games and food and maybe buttons. We won’t make much. Students must have a parent/guardian present to be admitted. A planning meeting will be Tuesday, April 5 in the Teachers’ Lounge at 4:30.

Next fundraiser is hanging baskets; they are nice large baskets that will sell for $18. They will be available for pick-up on the day of the dance, 4/29/05.

Need final draft of the new bylaws in order to file for tax-exempt status.

Kari Lindholm-Johnson will be organizing the Rummage Sale that will be on Saturday, May 7. Donations will be accepted beginning around April 30, maybe sooner if we can get access to the warming house for storing articles to sell. Food might be served. Banners/signs will be up on Brooklyn Boulevard and around the area.

Site Council Report

Didn’t meet, no report. Next meeting is Thursday, April 7.

New Business/Fundraising Ideas/Additional Comments

Still looking for new ways to fundraise. Need help from the community, as most Garden City families cannot afford to contribute.

Consider mailings to area businesses that outline exactly what we will need to cut if we don’t get some help.

Ask other areas PTOs (Northport School in Robbinsdale district, North Minneapolis, Earle Brown, etc.) how they are handling fundraising, perhaps they have some ideas since their demographics are similar to Garden City’s.

Maybe a marathon or bike/trike-athon? 100% profit, but no trinkets for the contribution. Some people like to have something for their money, others don’t care.

Pancake Breakfast?

Grade level/parent representatives attending PTO?

Quarterly all school meetings in addition to PTO business meetings?

There will be a town hall style education meeting at St. Alphonsus Church on 4/2/05 from 9-11:00 am. Lin Myzkowski is speaking

The board chose a district superintendent on March 12, although a contract has not been negotiated. Candidates were weaned down from forty to three to one. There will be another meeting without the selected candidate Tuesday 3/15 at Park Center for anyone interested in voicing concerns about the selected candidate.

There is a Park Center musical being performed this week and weekend. It is cheap family fun!

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The next regular PTO meeting is Monday, April 11. Regular PTO meetings throughout the year will usually be scheduled on the second Monday of each month.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Kim Graske

PTO Secretary