SPPS Capitol Hill -- Capitol Hill PTO Meeting Minutes

Carnival Report: Sara Langworthy reported that event was wildly successful and very profitable. The gross was $11,500, with expenses of about $4,500, with additional small bills still coming in. The net will be over $7,000, not including profits from the silent auction, which may be about $2,500. Next year PTO might consider a vendor of adult food like salads.

Budget Proposal for the 2004-05 Year:

Treasurer Robert Garfinkle presented a proposal for the allocation and spending of PTO funds for teachers, school supplies, and academic programs other than those organized by parents, as set forth in the attachment. The proposal should facilitate disbursement of PTO funds to teachers. Also PTO is not able to anticipate or recognize many funding needs in advance when it formulates its budget. As Capitol Hill faces larger budget shortfalls this coming year, it is imperative that PTO funds be allocated and spent effectively.

PTO funds help support the following: 1) the academic curriculum through the Science Fair, History Day, and other programs directed by teachers; 2) communications through the Newsletter, the Parent Handbook, the School Directory, and assignment planners; and 3) teacher grants for books, classroom supplies, etc... PTO will designate funds for those items in amounts to be determined when the 2004-05 budget is created, and based on an itemization of various expenses to be submitted by Mr. Mariucci. In September, PTO will transfer a lump sum for those items to Mr. Mariucci to be deposited in the Intra-school account. Then Mr. Mariucci will disburse funds to teachers and to pay for the budgeted expenses. Periodically, Mr. Mariucci will provide PTO with an accounting of how funds have been spent.

PTO funds its own activities such as grade level dinners, family dances, and makes grants for artist-in-residence programs or the computer lab, etc.... PTO also funds activities organized and run by parents such as French Club, Ski Club and Chess Club. PTO will continue to budget for these program and disburse the funds as it has in the 2003-04 year.

A motion was made and approved to transfer funds for academic support, communications, and teacher grants to the Intra-school account to be disbursed to Mr. Mariucci.

Site Council Report by Carolyn Fisk.

New Site Council members have been elected. Teacher John Mayock and Michael Wolf ran a solid election with 200 votes cast, more than in previous years. Because the elected members do not represent all geographic areas of the district as the by-laws require, the Site Council appointed parent Jackie A. Blakey, a CPA who formerly served on the J. J. Hill Site Council.

There are four goals for the 2004-05 SCIP Plan: 1) that 70% of at-risk students pass basic standards test; 2) to decrease number of office referrals in all ethnic groups; 3) identify the appropriate Gifted and Talented teaching model; and 4) increase diversity among staff and students.

Slate of PTO Officers for the 2004-05 Year.

Ann Yetter: Chair-Elect

Ann Hartnett: Treasurer

Moira Sweeney: Chair

PTO continues to seek people for the position of Secretary and Volunteer Coordinator.

Proposal of Wanda Jenkins, Performing Arts Specialist: Ms. Jenkins seeks a grant of $3,600 or $4,200 for percussion instruments for World Music Drumming, a program for students in grades 1 through 6, similar to Gamelon. The instruments can be integrated with the Orff instruments and other instruments Capitol Hill owns. This is a group music activity for all students, regardless of other formal music education they may have. Ms. Jenkins intends to enroll in the summer teachers' course regardless of whether PTO funds the purchase of the instruments.

PTO will consider the request for next yearss budget and will vote on the matter at the June meeting.

The next PTO Meeting will be on TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2004 at 7:00 P.M.

Respectfully submitted by Andrea Hauser