General Membership Meetings

Elizabeth Blackwell PTSA

General Membership Meeting

April 17, 2008

Call to Order:  By Michelle Grinslade at 2:08pm at Elizabeth Blackwell Elementary.    Notice of meeting given via Parent Organizer and Reader Board.  Quorum was present.

Board Members Present: Michelle Grinslade, Glenn Thompson, Cyndy Morgan, Kerry Suter, Julie Henderson, Mary Sullivan, Sheliah Escarda, Jennifer Lerch, and Stephen Bryant.

Minutes & Correspondence: Minutes from the January 2008 General Membership Meeting were presented.  Lisa Nelson made a motion to approve the minutes.  Minutes approved.

 Status Reports – Board of Directors:

Principal- Stephen Bryant

With a Shared Responsibility/Shared Leadership concept at Blackwell, there are some updates on the Content Committees under these.  The Literacy Committee has a consultant coming to do model lessons in the classrooms with teachers.  The Math Committee has scheduled Family Math Night on 5/1.  The Science Committee has Teachers/Students working on Life Units with live things (crawfish, etc.)  Looking at School Climate and Technology, teachers are being trained on active boards.  Currently Blackwell is WASLing and it is going well.  Stephen met with Kimberly Hornsby to discuss Art Start – looking at what works, and what doesn’t.  6^th Grade is keeping their 6^th grade lunch.  Working on Crisis Preparedness.  Over the next few weeks our local police department will be involved with photographing and mapping our school for placement on a secured website that will allow first responders easy access in case of a major emergency at Blackwell.

 President- Michelle Grinslade

Thank you new board members and old board members for serving Blackwell Elementary.    PTSA Convention coming up May 2, 3, and 4.  Cheryl Mead, PTSA Area Vice President, encouraged everyone to attend this.  Golden Acorn Nominations due 5/2.  Thanks a Latte will be 5/22, as well as the 10^th Year Blackwell Anniversary Celebration.  The Art Show will be 5/20.  Sock Hop is scheduled for 5/2.  Basic Board Training scheduled on 5/22 at 6:45pm at the district office.

Treasurer- Glenn Thompson

Current cash position is $19,825.51 in checking, $.43 in savings, and $30,000 in CDs (two at $15,000) for a total of $49,825.94.  Since the last General Membership Meeting, we have put $30,000 into two $15,000 no risk CDs.  Membership is at 100%.  Pass the Hat is at $28,939.92 and we expect more coming in.  Yearbook expenses not in yet.  Used Book Fair netted $1,080.32.  Glenn is putting together the Finance Committee.  Please let him know if you would like to be on this committee. 

Legislation – Sheliah Escarda

Attended Focus Day in Olympia.  Highlights include increasing pupil funding, extending the kindergarten day and getting teachers board certified.

     New Business

• Meg Stinnett presented the nominations for the 2008-2009 PTSA Board.  Names on the slate are as follows: 

          President – Michele Grinslade and Mary Sullivan 

          Exec. Vice President – Amy Jors

          Secretary – Kristi Ahern and Cindy Greenstein

          VP Ways and Means – Cathy Schultz

          VP Communications – Eric Nelson

          Treasurer – Glenn Thompson

          Community Liaison - Amy Barley

          VP Curriculum – Beth Olde and Kerry Suter

          Legislation – Deborah Stakelum

           No nominations from the floor.  Motion #1:  Glenn Thompson made a motion to approve the slate of officers.  Seconded by Dana Thorn.  Motion approved by a raise of hands, not by           ballot.  Thanks to the Nominating Committee of Donna Kurtz, Paula Sandige, Meg Stinnett,           Kerry Suter and Nancy Carney. 

• Peggy Nelson thanked the General Membership for approving the short wave radios at the last meeting.  The school really appreciates this and the new umbrellas. 
• School Year Calendar discussion.
• Big Toy net is frayed and dangerous so it was taken down.  The district believes the netting is faulty and will not replace it.  The Big Toy netting structure will be taken out. 
• Survey will be sent out to the General Membership.
• 6^th grade fundraising will be set up as a PTSA committee to coordinate fundraising, allow for petty cash outlay for events, and to keep a history for the next year. 
• Dana Thorn presented Roots and Shoots, a Jane Goodall sanctioned environmental program that helps other people and the Earth. 
• Julie Deutscher discussed the “green team” – a King County program to empower kids to make a real difference in helping the environment. 

 *Meeting Adjourned at 3:20pm.