Classen PTSA
Executive Board Meeting Minutes
February 7, 2007
President Kristi Warren called the meeting to order at 12:10 p.m. in the Classen Museum. The order of business was suspended to allow teacher liaison, Karin Stafford, present a mural design for the auditorium foyer. She introduced the mural designers, Classen students Jesus Elizondo, from Mexico, and Anita Oyarzun, from Chile, who explained that the design is based upon a cultural acceptance theme. The design will also be used on a Classen t-shirt introduced next year.
Pam Dowd, Secretary, presented the minutes of the last regular meeting. Ken McFarland moved they be approved as corrected. The motion was seconded and carried.
Kristi Warren presented the financial report on behalf of Viva Beasley, Treasurer. We have total cash of $29,669.96, with liabilities of $19,615.45. Unencumbered funds total $10,054.51. The teachers have until April 1, 2007, to spend the money from last year’s grants or the money will be forfeited. The Board discussed the potential use of the money donated for Coach Thompson. Viva is contacting the donors to learn their wishes, and then various possibilities will be discussed at a later meeting. Monies donated for teacher’s wish lists are being funneled through the PTSA account upon presentation of receipts. Ken McFarland moved that the financial report be approved. The motion was seconded and carried.
President Kristi Warren presented an overview of a contract with Edusoft for the purchase of software to be used for instructional management. Dr. Maxfield explained that it allows for a shorter turnaround on the results of benchmark tests and would also enable teachers to give weekly mini-assessments to learn whether students understand the material. Title I schools are able to purchase the software with title I funds. Dr. Rochelle Converse has arranged for a donor to fund the purchase, but the money would have to be funded through the PTSA. Kristi received a contract obligating us to pay $5000 each year for three years. The funding source is unknown. The legalities and liabilities of such a contract were discussed. The Board consensus was to instruct the President not to sign, pending receipt of a revised contract proposal.
Bea Scofield, Booster Committee Chair, presented the Homecoming Report. The PTSA budgeted $350 for this event for decorations and supplies. She was able to cut down on decorating costs by reusing some of last year’s decorations. She also purchased flowers for the court. The first spirit poster contest netted only one participant who received a $35 Target gift card as a prize, leaving $213 unspent. Bea asked if the remaining money could be used for flowers for the seniors on senior night. Pam Dowd moved that the remainder of the funds be used to purchase flowers for senior night. The motion was seconded and carried. While many parents volunteered to help with Homecoming, Bea reported that they all backed out. Christi Savage suggested that all parent volunteers be called to participate next year. The Booster Committee’s next project will be the sports reception at the end of the year.
President Kristi Warren reported that we have an estimate to install faux wood blinds on all the windows on the front of the school so the school will have a uniform look in front. A Classen parent has volunteered to furnish the blinds at cost and install them for free. The estimate from Ketch Design Centre is $7200 -$7800. From the money budgeted for school renovation, slightly less than $1000 was spent on furbishing the building for tours and shadowing by Shawn Abernathy, leaving us with $5700 remaining for the blinds. The Board discussed several possibilities including providing addition money to complete the entire job from the unencumbered funds or purchasing the blinds in stages. Pam Dowd moved that the Board provide an additional $2100 to complete the job. The motion was seconded and carried.
The tours and shadowing were successful. Kristi thanked those involved and stated that the group meeting format with presentations by Classen students was well-received and should be made a part of the procedure in the future.
The auction will be March 9, 2007. Preparations were set back by the storms. We will have a raffle again this year with the prize being a $3000 gift card. The student who sells the winning ticket will win a WII game system and a $100 gift certificate. Students must sell five tickets to be eligible. It was suggested also that if 20,000 tickets were sold the student would also win an I-Mac computer. We still need acquisitions for the auction. The theme will be sports and a big screen TV will be offered for a small donation for those wishing to watch the Big 12 tournament.
Dr. Ron Maxfield presented the principal’s report. Parent Conference Day will be February 23, 2007. The feedback was positive from the last conference. We will again have parents sign up, first come, first served, for conferences. Parents will be able to sign up in advance through their teachers if the teachers make that available. The teacher liaisons will help direct traffic. Parents will be notified in advance about the possibility of advance sign up.
Dr. Maxfield also reported that the school would begin giving the PSAT to all students starting in grade 8. The testing will cost an additional $2000 per grade. One grade will be paid out of the school’s fund. He will apply for a PTSA grant to cover the rest. He also wants to get an event clock for occasions when the schedule has to be altered as the current school clock and bell is too difficult to change. They cost about $1000. He is looking into getting atomic clock movements for each teacher so that they will all be on the same time.
Student cell phones are becoming an increasing problem with students making and receiving calls and text messages during class. Students are asked to keep their phones turned off in class and out of the way in their bags. A note to parents will be sent via newsletter.
Ken McFarland moved the meeting be adjourned. The motion was seconded and carried. The meeting was adjourned at 1:10 p.m.