Belmont Ridge Middle School PTSO

Meeting Minutes

September 23, 2008, 10:00 a.m.

Belmont Ridge Middle School

ATTENDING

Courtney TaliaferroTim FlynnJulie Logan

Kimberly BurnsMary A. CoyleDonna Gavan

Melanie FondacoLinda HaberlinHelen LeBlanc

Sonya KalianJanel VanekLynette Hartmann

C. Louise LewisDenise O’BrienShab Sharif

Carmen McClureMary DuerMaureen Curtis

Leigh-Anne MarcellinCurt DuerSuzanne Kim

Jean GarrellMeera IssarArlene Harrison

Kirsten LanghornePenny SchmitzPhyllis Randall

Tina WinskyJill CheretisDoreen Meadows

Susan FitzgeraldSue DavisDeb Martin

Mary RadfordCarmen OsorioMarilyn Fields

Uzma AhmadMarcie KohlZulikha Hussain

AGENDA

  1. Call To Order – Courtney Taliaferro welcomed everyone and requested the minutes from the last meeting be read.
  1. Minutes Reading and Approval – minutes of the BRMS PTSO meeting on June 3, 2008 were read and approved.
  1. President’s Remarks – Courtney Taliaferro thanked volunteers who helped with the annual picnic and, the staff luncheon.
  1. Principal’s Remarks – Mr. Flynn wants the importance of parent volunteers emphasized this year. Mr. Flynn would like all volunteers to feel welcomed and embraced by the school community. In addition, he would like to include instructional help as a parent volunteer goal. He also stated the number of people attending today is a wonderful surprise.
  1. Door Prize – Sonya Kalian, PTSO VP for fundraising, handed out wonderful door prizes to three lucky winners in attendance.
  1. Reports
  1. Melanie Fondaco PTSO Treasurer

reported that an audit was completed, and the Audit Report stated everything was found to be in good order and there were no irregularities.

Melanie then gave a detailed report on the proposed PTSO budget for 2008-2009. The proposed budget shows net income of $1,105. Adding that to our beginning bank balance of $10,605 gives us an ending balance of $11,710.

Items of note:

Belmont Ridge United (BRU) and the school musical, in past years, were not part of the PTSO budget. Each had a separate account used to produce the talent show, and the musical, respectively. This year, and in future years, the musical and all activities of BRU will be merged with the PTSO. For this transition year, revenues from the musical and talent show will be reflected on the PTSO’s books. Expenses, however, will be paid out of the existing balances in the BRU and Musical accounts, until they are depleted. These expenses would not be reflected on the PTSO’s books. Only expenses paid with PTSO money will be included. For future years, the PTSO budget will have to include all BRU and musical expenses and will need to be adjusted accordingly. Mr. Flynn noted that BRU was an independent parent group that targets diversity and equity. Last year it was decided that BRU should be combined with the PTSO as we move forward as one school united. BRU agreed, and it was decided BRU would be able to achieve their goals and continue to produce the talent show by appointing a dedicated BRU Vice President to the PTSO. This appointment is pending.

Melanie also noted that the budget includes payment for one half of the cost of the recently completed beautiful landscaping, and for the purchase of a grill, tents, and picnic tables; payment for the Brain Pop software annual subscription; and for the clickers and other accessories wanted to use with the “smartboards”. Brain Pop installation will begin in October and we should be using it by December.

Courtney made a motion to accept the budget. It was seconded and approved.

A discussion followed on the possibility of amending the budget to include $5,000 to pay for paper to be used through the end of the year. Mr. Flynn said before we amend the budget we need to get a better assessment of our needs. It was agreed that this issue and ideas to rectify it should be discussed outside of this meeting and proposals considered after further assessment.

  1. Kim Burns, VP Membership and Volunteer Coordinator

Kim reported we currently have 400 members. She will be sending out weekly email updates on Thursdays to let parents know what is scheduled for the coming week. She is in the process of transferring updates to yahoo groups instead of email. Please watch for an email inviting you to be a member of the yahoo group. She has had a wonderful response from people wanting to volunteer including over 100 people offering to help with hospitality. She is still looking for someone to volunteer to help with the school website. Volunteers are also needed to help out at lunch. Mr. Flynn said students are now allowed to go outdoors during lunch, and we may be getting a microwave in the cafeteria so we will need more volunteers at lunch. Also, parent volunteers are needed to rewrite the student handbook so it is less of a list of rules not to break and more of a guide advising how to achieve success. Kim then reported that committee chairs would begin contacting volunteers this week. If anyone does not get contacted, please contact the chair. All committee chairs and their emails are now listed on the website.

  1. Sonya Kalian, VP Fundraising

Sonya reported on the necessity of raising funds to pay for the budgeted expenses, but she doesn’t want parents to feel like they’re being nickel and dimed. All fundraising opportunities will be on the website, and listed in Kim’s weekly updates. Fundraising activities currently planned are: on October 2 at California Tortilla in Lansdowne. In November there will be a fundraising day at Rubinos. In December there will be one on kids eat free night at The Dock. All restaurants will donate a percentage of sales on fundraising days to the school. The wrapping paper fundraiser is underway, and the school musical will be a big fundraiser. We are collecting box tops in the main office. Also, Sonya reminded everyone to register with Harris Teeter and Giant so the school will get funds just by shopping at the grocery stores. She asked everyone to support the Moms Pies fundraiser being run by the 8th grade end of year celebration committee. In addition, there will be a silent auction this year during Fine Arts Night. Sonya hopes this event will raise around $10,000. It will most likely be held sometime after winter holiday and before spring break. Also, Sonya said there are donation forms that can be printed from the website so parents or businesses can donate funds to the school.

  1. Committee Reports

Sue Davis, Parent Liaison, handed out a description of the parent liaison position prepared by Loudoun County Public Schools. She reported some ways she helps parents include getting an interpreter, and helping parents to get more involved. She said she can be contacted by email. Her email can be found on the school website under Parents, and then click on parent liaison. She would like parents to give suggestions on how to help with success. She said the Guidebook for Success is available to anyone who would like a copy. She will be happy to send it to anyone requesting a copy.

Helen LeBlanc reported that she is in charge of putting together the school directory. She needs volunteers to help her proof the list, and she will provide lunch to all who can help with this.

Courtney Taliaferro reported on behalf of the 8th Grade End of Year Celebration committee. The committee heads have been named and you can contact them by getting their email from the parent tab of the website. The first meeting of the committee is on September 30 at 10:45am. They are planning to take orders in early November for their Moms Pies fundraiser.

Polly Chin is the chair for After School Programs. She will report at the next meeting.

The Hospitality Committee is planning to meet within the next two weeks. You will be contacted with more information on this.

  1. Unfinished Business – there was no unfinished business discussed at this meeting.
  1. New Business – Mr. Flynn said it is urgent that we get the PTSO VP for BRU in place as well as the representative from the school to The Minority Student Achievement Advisory Committee (MSAAC). Kim Burns said that 18 people indicated interest in the VP for BRU position. She suggested one of them may also be interested in being the MSAAC representative. Mr. Flynn would like the MSAAC representative to be in place before the next PTSO meeting. The VP for BRU can be elected at the next meeting.
  1. Next Meeting - the next PTSO meeting will be on October 21st at 6:45pm. At 7:30pm there will be a presentation on Internet Safety given by the office of the Virginia Attorney General.
  1. Adjourn – the meeting was adjourned at 12:00pm.