PMS Parent Club Board Minutes – October 2012

APPROVED

October 12, 2012

Attendance:Shirley Rexrode, Susan, Adams, Anita Cheung, Barbara Love, Betsy Barnes, Carol Menz, Claudia Harrison, Diana Gleghorn, Esther Rogers, Helen Young, Jennifer Fox, Jon Elliott, Julie Moll, Julie Whiteside, Katie Korotzer, Karen Franchino, Kimberly Moses, Kristen Malan, Laura Katter, Lillis Stern, Marianne Mitosinka, Marie Retherford, Michelle Lucas, Natalie Williamson, Sarah Smith, Shannon Hansen, Stacy Merickel, Terri Burge, Tracy Machle, Rick Raushenbush

The meeting was called to order by Shirley Rexrode at 8:35am.

The September minutes were approved by the Board.

The Parent Board passed a recommendation to endorse both Prop. 30 and Prop. 38.

Shirley began the meeting by expressing thanks to board members for various activities in the last month: Julie Whiteside for the 8th grade gleaning event; Shannon Bloemker and Hillary Cooper for help with food service; Helen Young for the increase in Parent Club memberships; Claudia Harrison, Tracy Machle and Karen Tellegen for organizing the 7th grade social dance; Barbara Love who helped welcome the 50 new families at the New Parent Party; Lisa Wolfe for her work with parent education events; Lillis Stern, Liz Epstein and Sandy Pellegrini for their emergency prep work; Michelle Lucas for her work on the revised Bulletin; Anne Marshal and Esther Rogers for distribution of the PMS bulletin through the parents’ club distribution list which will cease after the Oct 15th bulletin. The PMS Bulletin will continue to be sent out via Infinite Campus.

The hospitality committee hosts two big PMS staff luncheons during the year, and asked to increase their budget from $1,000 to $1700. A motion was made and carried.

The board also voted to increase funding for the after school study program to $12,000.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

  • Flu Clinics – These are community events so please volunteer to help if you can.
  • The Internet Safety Meeting has been rescheduled for December 4 at 7pm in the PMS MPR.
  • The Great California Shakeout earthquake drill is October 18 at 10:18am.
  • Contact Stephanie Griffin if you need help getting registered with Infinite Campus (IC).
  • Thursday, Nov. 18, 7-8:30pm in the MPR: Meet the Administrators for 6th grade parents.

SCRIP – Diana Gleghorn: Diana presented her SCRIP announcement with a cute skit, encouraging families to use Standing Monthly (or even semi-monthly) order for the SCRIP purchases. If you prefer to use a credit card for shopping to earn points or miles, please consider buying SCRIP for even small portion of your shopping. The difference to the schools is significant.

PRINCIPAL – Jeanne Donovan: PMS's Academic Performance Index score (API) from last spring's STAR testing increased from a score of 943 to 966, a 23-point gain. The API is a single number that ranges from 200 to 1000, and reflects a school's performance level based on the results of statewide testing. Its purpose is to measure the academic performance and growth of schools.

Judging from the feedback, we have learned a lot about the benefits as well as the challenges from the block schedule trial. Some of the challenges were that 6th graders had 1 academic day and 1 “easy” day; some teachers had no prep 1 day and 2 prep periods the other day. Some of the positives were: P.E. classes loved the longer period. Math classes had an opportunity to learn new concepts and work on homework in class with the teacher available to ask questions. Pacing, scheduling and curriculum planning all need some development. There is a Block Schedule Committee meeting on October 21 to determine the next steps.

Site Council goals have been clarified and are: (1) students will become digital learners (2) continue to discuss World Language (3) analyze the results of various assessments and (4) support the whole child in the learning process.

Teachers are also using our data management program, Data Director, to look closely at the specific data within content clusters of the STAR test. Looking closely at these data helps teachers develop, refine, and restructure their teaching in order to address specific areas of need.

SUPERINTENDENT – Connie Hubbard: Connie gave an overview of student spending by the district beginning in 2007-08 when the state’s fiscal crisis began. Currently, there is a $4800 per student difference between what PUSD receives from the state and what PUSD spends. That gap in funding is made up by local contributions (parcel tax, Annual Giving, etc.). The 2012-13 California state budget is predicated on voters approving Prop 30 on November 4. Failure of Proposition 30 will trigger automatic cuts to K-12 education throughout California. The effect on Piedmont will be an immediate reduction of an additional $1.1 million dollars from the state between January and June 2013. Passage of Proposition 38, which is also on the November ballot, would direct billions of dollars to public schools, although we would still have the trigger cuts described above. If both measures pass, then the one with the most votes would go into effect. Voters will not be taxed twice. PUSD expenditures have stayed relatively the same since 2007-2008. Connie commented that we have saved money in advance of the cuts and should not have to make cuts this school year, should it come to that.

Connie explained that the states with the highest performing students spend between $16,000-$22,000 per student. We spend about $11,000, 47th in the nation, yet our students still perform well. Connie noted that PEF has invested over $500,000 in professional development K-12 over the last 5 years.

ASST. SUPERINTENDENT – Randy Booker: Randy discussed previous budget tactics the district has used: (1) Alter student program delivery (i.e. increase class size); (2) Employee compensation reductions; (3) increase fundraising (4) program preservation funds (one-time funding to support existing program).

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL – Eric Mapes: Eric explained there have been issues with students posting and commenting inappropriately on both Instagram and Facebook, and encouraged parents to follow their child’s account. Kids think it’s a joke to hijack another student’s “name” and post inappropriate comments. The last 2 weeks have been better as far as incidents involving students. Magazine sales are at $70,000 total: $50,000 via campus turn in, and $20,000 via online sales. Last year we were at $80,000. The PMS Revenue of this total is $32,500. Online sales continue all year. Our code is Piedmont1. The money earned goes to ASB for various activities including noontime games; spirit events; supplies for the canned food drive, etc.

COUNSELING – KechCarerra: Kech is on campus 4 days a week, M, W, Th. and F. The Ambassadors program is going strong during both lunches on Thursdays. Peer Mediator interviews are taking place. There were about 35 applications received, and 14-16 students will be chosen. Offsite training takes place on November 7-8.

WELLNESS CENTER – Betsy Barnes: PMS Leadership Programs are under the guidance of the Wellness Center located at PHS. On Tuesdays, when Kech is off campus, a Wellness Center intern is on campus at PMS. WC interns are graduate students training for various counseling and therapist licenses.

GIVING CAMPAIGN – Terri Burge: The New Parent Party was very successful. Terri presented a check for last year’s Campaign proceeds to Shirley in the amount of $360,529.52. PMS has about 9% parent participation so far. Please give what you can. Phone-a-thons are scheduled for October 23 and November 13.

SCHOOL SUPPORT TAX – Katie Korotzer: On March 5, 2013, Piedmont will have a special election to vote on renewing the existing school parcel tax, now renamed the School Support Tax. This measure is not to be confused with Measure Y, the city parcel tax on the November ballot. Katie is chairing this campaign, along with Doug Ireland, and is looking for enthusiastic volunteers. Let Connie or any school board member know if you have particular comments about how the language for the ballot measure should be drafted.

EDUCATE OUR STATE – Hope Salzer: Hope gave a brief history of Educate Our State, which began 3 years ago by a mom in San Francisco. Its platform is simply to improve public education in California for the longterm. Its short-term focus is on getting Props. 30 and 38 passed. Hope reiterated that if neither proposition passes Piedmont schools face a $1.1M loss of funding for the current school year, and a $3.5M loss over the next 2 years.

NEXT MEETING: Note special date/time: Thursday, November 15, 2012 at 7:00 pm in PMS MPR.

Respectfully submitted,

Susan Adams, Recording Secretary