Call to Order
Call to order 9:35 a.m. 38 people signed in; 22 of 24 schools were represented. Proper meeting notice was given. Quorum present.
District Visitor – Cindy Schwinden, Facility Use Scheduler
PTAs should fill out scheduling forms for each event for next year and submit to Cindy Schwinden by June 1. Forms should include start and end times. If a custodian is needed, please make note of that (minimum of 3 hours at $40 per hour). If use of kitchen is needed, must have Kitchen Tech on duty (2 hour minimum at $32 per hour). The form to use is on the district web site. Cindy will be retiring at the end of this year, so will come to June meeting with her replacement.
President’s Report –Becky Gordon
Make sure to check the agenda notes, under meeting documents on the council web site, as they are packed with valuable information.
The Community Values Survey results were given to Administration and ISF for review, and the results are available on front page of Council web site. Thank you to Alisa George for her hard work on this project.
Council has submitted SOE. Thank you to CindyKelm, Leslie Kahler and Laila Collins for help with documents.
PTA and the Principal for secondary schools has been rescheduled to March 21 due to weather delays. Next year will resume in the fall.
Becky Gordon was asked to write an article for the District newsletter.
The District will give a shout out to PTSA this month through social media.
The Issaquah Fish Hatchery is looking to engage with schools close by for partnership in STEM, increase volunteer base through older students needing service hours, and work in an art project. Becky Gordon will disseminate info. The Hatchery is also looking for experienced board members.
Minutes – Leslie Kahler
February 9, 2017 GM meeting minutes were distributed and reviewed; filed as presented.
Treasurer’s Report – Erin Thacker for Laila Collins
February 2017Financial Report was distributed and reviewed. Beginning balance was $29,136.32 and ending balance was $27,636.32. Presidents were advised to begin working on their budgets for next year.
Nominating Committee– Ina Ghangurde, Heidi Fuhs, Valerie Yanni, Leslie Kahler
Final Slate was presented:
For the office of President:Becky Gordon and Leslie Kahler
For the office of VP High Schools:Ina Ghangurde
For the office of VP Middle Schools:Laila Collins
For the office of VP Elementary North:Care Maree Harper
For the office of VP Elementary Central:Kimberly Nocco
For the office of VP Elementary South:Korista Smith-Barney
For the office of Treasurer:Erin Eaton
For the office of Secretary:Erin Thacker
Golden Acorn & Awards– Dawn Peschek
Thank you to committee for hard work on this project. District Awards reception invites handed out. For award winners, presidents, principals and committee members.
Council Awards were presented to:
Pat Castillo and Kim Weiss for Outstanding Advocate
Cindy Kelm, Kimberly Nocco and Heidi Fuhs for Golden Acorn Awards
Vice Presidents – Kimberly Nocco, Alisa George, Care Maree Harper, Kym Clayton, Ina Ghangurde
Breakout session – Conflict resolution led by Becky Gordon
Anticipate potential conflict and make plan ahead of time to deal with it.
Parliamentary procedure helps build structure and manage emotion.
Work for solutions rather than attacking people.
Handed out info documents.
Talked about conflicts and how they were handled or if you need help ask for it.
Best Practices- Kym Clayton & Alissa George
Congratulations to schools who have turned in SOE.
Nominating Committees should be at work, and posting slate on school grounds and online, 15 days prior to election.
It is time to be working on transitions, scheduling for next year and new budget.
Will bring transition checklist next month
PTA Convention April 28-30 counts for next year's training.
Advocacy – Korista Smith-Barney
Senate Bill 5023, which extends Levy Lidhas passed, and will now go on to the House. Thank you for support.
A Bill has passed to support Para Educators.
March 11 Legislative meeting.
Membership – Erin Eaton
The Council membership goal has been met at 14,977 members.
The following schools have hit 100% membership: Beaver Lake Middle, Cascade, Gibson Ek, Maple Hills and Sunny Hills.
State level PTA has modified documents to say that anyone can be a member. Guidelines for membership structure should be decided by your board and focused on doing what is best for your school.
Choosing to offer single, multiple or staff memberships should be considered and decided by board.
Consider what your goal is for membership; numbers of members or family engagement.
Membership fees must cover your fees to council, state and national PTA. This is mandated by the IRS.
Make sure that bylaws and membership structure align.
In regards to awards, local units must apply for 100 percent membership/staff membership, while the rest of the awards are automatic.
Art – Laurelle Graves & Juliette Ripley-Dunkelberger
No report.
F.A.C.E.– Margarita Leas & Ina Ghangurde
No report.
Healthy Youth Initiative– Pat Castillo
The Executive Director candidates for the Issaquah Schools Foundation have been narrowed. Final choice will be announced at the board meeting on Tuesday.
Healthy Youth survey data will be coming March 15th. Will release information in June.
This Saturday, the second of three State of Mind Conferences will be held at Liberty HS from 11:30 to 4:30.
All three high schools, and a few middle schools are represented in the Video contest. Videos will be judged April 3rd at the Issaquah Police Station Eagle Room.
Hidden in Plain Sight will be held at Liberty HS March 28th. Pat Castillo passed around a few items that are common drug paraphernalia. This event helps parents check kids’ rooms for signs of drug use. A second event is being planned.
Issaquah Schools Foundation (ISF) – Valerie Yanni
The Kateri Brow Big Idea Grants need volunteers.
March 23rd, come join the Glassy Baby Road show to hear about ISF from 6 to 9 pm at Blakley Hall. All sales will help support the Foundation.
Outreach – Kim Weiss
Additional detailed information in the Agenda Notes. Thank you to all who helped bring in 415 boxes for Lunch for the Break in February. Special thanks to Apollo, Briarwood, Newcastle and Maywood for their school-wide drives. Shelf stable milk products and cans of tuna were added with extra funds.
April 5th will be the donor drop off for Lunch for the Break for the April break. Cascade Ridge will be doing a school-wide drive. A kidmail flier will be available soon.
Parentwiser – Heidi Fuhs & Debbie Steinberg-Kuntz
Heidi Fuhs reminded presidents to check Agenda Notes.
Parentwiser will continue as a district-wide model next year. Asking for $250 donation per school and for each school to have a parent ed rep in support of Parentwiser.
There will be a Positive Discipline program for Spanish speaking families.
Upcoming programs (see Agenda Notes) Influence the Choice, Jessica Lahey (additional morning session added).
Heidi Fuhs handed out information fliers and said a survey will go out in enews and be open until March 22nd to gauge community needs for next year’s speakers.
Reflections – Leah Gibson & Yvette Blauvelt
Dawn Peschek reported that there were 17 state winners from Issaquah, of which four will move on to nationals. There are 28 state wide winners going to nationals.
STAR/Special Ed– Carrie Hipsher
No report.
VIS– Dawn Peschek
Dawn Peschek and Suzanne Weaver handed out letter to presidents to remind them to keep a VIS line item in next year’s budget and to make this year’s payment if not already done so. They thanked everyone for their support.
Webmaster– Cindy Kelm
No report.
District Updates–
Martin Turney, Executive Director of Operations
The district has been working on Safety and Emergency Preparedness items such as a backpack for each school for first responders. The backpack contains binders of critical information relating to the students, safety shut off information, etc. The binders are maintained by building secretaries and updated quarterly. The backpack will include a radio, keys to the building and the emergency containers. Also continuing to roll out the electronic access badges for all buildings. This should be complete in the next few months. Adding security cameras to all buildings. Each building has emergency plan and will have a template to follow for consistency. Family reunification processes are being reviewed. Looking at plans for stadiums so that there is consistency in emergency plans, common scripts on what to say and how to evacuate. Looking into electronic badge systems for contractors and visitors.
Questions:
1.Will district make consistent recommendations for each school for emergency supplies?Emergency containers have been standardized...need to look at classrooms with flexibility for specific buildings.
2.An update was asked for on Liberty concessions...Martin Turney says Capital Projects would have an update.
Doug Jones – IEA RepresentativeAsking teachers for evaluation of PBSES.Asking new hires how first year of teaching in the District has gone.
New Business –
Speaking on behalf of the School Board, Suzanne Weaver mentioned two seats on the school board will be up for re-election in November. Interested parties must file the third week of May. April 19th there will be an information meeting for those interested in running.
Meeting adjourned: Adjourned 11:17 am.
Submitted by:
Leslie Kahler
Secretary, Issaquah PTSA Council 2.6
Issaquah PTSA Council 2.6 General Membership Minutes, March 9, 2017 page 1