SRS H&S 2014

Swarthmore Rutledge School

Home & School Meeting Minutes

9-17-14, 7:00pm, Library

  1. Attendance: Tracy DiBonaventura, Michelle Williams, Julie Dillon McHugh, Lynn Meza, Courtney Page-Smith, Jennifer Pfluger, Amy Strachan, Dr. Angela Tuck (Principal), Beth Parker, Colleen Murphy, Katie Turner, Kami Rose, Jen Lentz, Maresa Mahoney, Sarah Graden, Tricia Benedetto, Jill Kerr, Ben Morris, Jana Jordan, Hadley Schmoyer (Teacher Representative), Karen Kille, EydrejoKurchan, Kelly Fitzpatrick, Shannon Mahler, Donna Griffin, GrethcenShifflett, Rebecca Tenney-Soeiro, Roberta Riccio, Melissa Haley (29attendees)

II. Meeting Called to Order: 7:00pm

  1. Business

1.Principal’s Report: Dr. Tuck

  • Welcome to everyone.
  • Enjoyed meeting everyone at Back to School Night and Picnic by the Swings. Thanks to presidents for organizing. Large school has small school feeling with much support and participation by parents.

2. Presidents’ Report: Tracy DiBonaventura and Michelle Williams

  • Movie Under the Stars went well
  • Kinder Meet N Greets were held for morning and afternoon parents
  • Picnic by the Swings was successful, police ran a bike demo course
  • Back-to-School Night was well attended; Colleen Murphy organized the teacher appreciation dinner; many positive comments made about the slide show
  • Thanks to Kelly for taking on E-blast
  • By-Law Amendment: Currently filling out applications for sales tax exemption. Applications require a provision in the By-Laws that states no private person can take money if organization folds. Board proposes to add a line that states that excess fundswould go to SRS or other non-profit. Will be posted on H&S website and voted on at next meeting.
  • Playground: a lot of changes, including stencils, new equipment, wall ball. Now need H&S position to liaise between H&S, administration and recess aides.Heidi Sentivan has volunteered to be Playground Representative, she wants help. Her first order of business is to meet with aides and document playground rules. Volunteers can contact Heidi. Will also post in E-blast.
  • Directory: Donna Milligan gave update. About two weeks behind. Delay is mainly due to changes with how information is distributed.
  • E-Blasts: Volunteer of the Week is new feature. Point out what everyone is doing –gives thanks and shows range of things that get done. Anyone can nominate one person or a team.
  • STEM update: November 20th 6:30-8:00. Current chairs, Dana and Jen, are both parents of fifth graders and gone from SRS next year. Looking for new recruits to fill next year positions.

3. Treasurer’s Report: Tracy DiBonaventura

  • Budget: not a lot happening yet. Have gotten in Direct Donations over $1700. DD is critical for H&S and not having kids sell for fundraising. Goal every year has been $5000.
  • Only expenses so far for Surplus Requests still being paid out from last year
  • Everything on track for surplus items, some coming in under budget.
  • Reimbursement Policy reminder: form on under “Forms.” Must use form, with receipts attached, to get reimbursed. Those go to to Kerry Hoag. If running an event, proceeds go to Jodi Caputo, Receiving Treasurer. Katie Turner has Globetrotters deposits, questioned if Jodi knows form is online. Tracy gave a reminder to put event in the line item space to give Kerry description for budgeting. Multi-night event – need separate form for each night.
  • Petty Cash form available on website under “Forms” to request start-up funds.

4. Teacher Initiatives: Tracy DiBonaventura

Upped budget amount in 14-15 TI fund. In 13-14 spent $1882, 14-15 budgeted $2500, because we were on cusp last year. Requests are generally well thought out and presented. H&S wants to fulfill as many as possible. Making efforts to build yearly expenses into budget. Use TI form for one time expenses, outside of items that school is responsible for funding.

The following requests were considered and voted on at the meeting:

  • Ms. Brooke (4th grade): $114.88 whisper phone, focuses on individual sounds. Tracy reads description, Hadley Schmoyer gives more detail on the item and its use. Ms. Brooke has some sets in class that are frequently used, popular with students. Asking for four more sets. Just for use in her classroom. Approved unanimously.
  • Recess Aides: 13-14 put in $1000 surplus request for recess supplies. They want to increase indoor recess activities/games. In 13-14 approved $500 of the total requested, with caveat they could ask for more. Now requesting additional $500 for new indoor games. Approved unanimously.
  • Extra Fund request – on behalf of H&S:Industrial size Cotton Candy machine. Will be used for Fall Fest, Bingo Night, Swarthmore Fun Faire. Will recoup cost in three events over rental charges. Same procedure will be followed as in using popcorn machine. Michelle will make cleaning and use instructional manual to accompany machines when they are used. Dr. Tuck will provide space to store it. Approved with one Nay vote.
  • Mrs. Shapiro (Librarian) and Dr. Tuck: iPad cart in library, will hold 40iPads, at additional $3681. Tracy recapped 13-14 surplus – because Kinder iPads weren’t approved money is left over – have enough to buy the iPads. Additional funds for more iPads to be added onto library request, to reach more students. Dr. Tuck comments that this set will rotate through K-3rd grades, reiterates that this will reach more students. Dr. Tuck addressed questions about tech support and coordination from the District and other WSSD schools. Question was raised, could laptops be an option – Dr. Tuck answered that teachers want iPads because they are more user friendly and the teachers have an app that enables them to control the iPads. Also, the Tech Lab is frequently being used to capacity – 610 students have rotating schedule, including for testing, and it is challenging for teachers to get in as much tech time that they want. iPads provide another opportunity for teachers to get tech time for students. Question raised about needing to again advertise for this vote – presidents responded that lawyers reviewed by-laws and concluded that the surplus has been adequately advertised and the Principal can amenda request that was already made and bring it for a vote. Approved with two Nay votes.

5. Upcoming Events

  • Diabetes Walk, 10/3
  • National Walk-to-School Day, 10/8
  • Fall Festival, 10/10

6. Parent Comments:

  • Do we have tech rep that goes to district meeting to decide / strategize how we will more forward? All agree that is a good idea. Dr. Tuck notes that additional technology needs to be approved by District. District oversees all tech purchases. At monthly tech meetings the superintendent, principals and administration discuss the vision of where schools are going with technology Dr. Tuck confirms that H&S presidents can attend tech meeting and report back to H&S. Tracy and Michelle voice intention to do so.
  • Do all WSSD H&S organizations meet?All elementary school H&S presidents meet 4 times a year. Discuss new practices and procedures.
  • Is there a way to coordinate so that info goes home to oldest child? Yes, done in past, but need volunteers from Sustainability committee(historically one of the hardest committee to fully staff).Tracy notes that it is not an issue of lack of willing parent volutneers – we do have a lot of volunteers, but we do a wide range of great activities and programs. SRS H&S has talked with WES and NPE about coordinating events.
  • Katie Turner reported on Globetrotters: 100 students enrolled this year. Increase in French Level 1. French teacher added French Plus, which focuses on French culture. Spanish curriculum has been changed: Elli Bromley coordinated with SHMS Spanish teachers with the goal to prepare students to pass out of grade 6 Spanish. Still some room in Spanish I, might be able to add a second Level I class.
  • Gretchen Shifflett reported on Fall Festival: wants to bring back book swap. Need a few parents to organize: make and distribute flyer, collect books, organize books into categories.
  • TracyDiBonaventurareported on E-blast: text must be submitted to Kelly by Wednesday for publication on Friday and cc’d to Tracy and Michelle.

V. Next Meeting:October 15that 7:00am at SRS Library

VI. Meeting Adjourned: 8:05 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

Lynn Meza