MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2008, 6:30 PM

Business Meeting

PTO President Darlene Haecker called the meeting to order.

Minutes from the February and March meetings were approved by unanimous vote.  Acting Secretary Annie Yetter will forward the Minutes to Randi Madisen to post on the web site.

Principal’s Report:  Asst. Principal Mary Bridgeman has the April 9th newsletter in hand.  The focus is the April Foolishness Carnival and the need for volunteers and donations.

Treasurer’s Report:  Carolyn Larson reported that the direct drive has brought in $9,070 to date.  This is roughly $4,000 below the expected total.  The impact will hit the PTO budget in 2008/09.  Carolyn is expecting approx. $700 additional once matching gift programs respond.  Darlene will write a brief update for the 4/23 newsletter as a reminder that we need parents to follow through and donate.

The 1-3^rd grade dance made $14.26 in profit.  The 4^th-6^th dance spent $233 and came in under budget.

Site Council:  Ali Turner was unable to attend.  No report submitted.

Old Business

Directory Addendum: Ayesha has not submitted the addendum.  It was agreed that at this point in the year and in light of our limited resources the PTO would not pursue printing the addendum this year.  Parent Angie Taylor volunteered her data entry experience and will communicate with Ayesha about assembling the directory for the 2008/09 school year.

Funding Request:  Wanda Jenkins’ request for money to rent rent seven wireless microphones, a sound board (for the mics) and a spotlight for the 5^th-6^th grade musical was funded in the amount of $250.

Fundraising:  Effort to sell rakes at parent-teacher conferences March 18-20^th faltered due to lack of volunteers.   Ed Davis to pursue whether lumber mills would have any use for the handles, and whether plastic rake heads are recyclable.

Ed is to send contact names and procedures to Darlene for all the above efforts by Saturday.

Carnival:  Mary Bridgeman will pursue finding a couple of 6^th grade volunteers to read carnival promotions during morning announcements.  Mary also reported hiring two St. Paul police officers for the night of the carnival.

Carolyn Larson, Carnival Maven, reported that preparation is going according to plan although donations and volunteers are still needed.

The need for signage throughout school promoting the carnival was discussed.  Annie Yetter to explore the PTO storage closet for giant sign used last year.  Ed Davis recommended Heather Ostergren as a sign maker if one is needed.

Fundraising:  Maureen Dolan was unable to attend meeting.  Parent Angie Taylor presented information about Avon Fundraising programs which have students  selling care packages with personal necessities for either the U.S. military or victims of natural disasters.  Discussion was brief, and it was decided that this would be better pursued in the coming year.  Darlene kept copies of presentation materials.

Anne Hartnett will explore the Campbell’s Catalogue and suggest what we might spend our 12,000 points on.

Playground:  Jan Nixon reported that a STAR grant would be submitted the first week of June.  The committee is working with the district to get approval for phase 2 of the plan.  The tentative grant request is for $75,000.

By Law Update:  Copies of the proposed bylaw changes were passed out. Discussion centered around including the chair-elect and volunteer coordinator as officers; restricting voting to officers and provisionally, to room representatives (should that program be implemented); tightening the language spelling out the duties of each officer; and changing the terms of the treasurer and secretary positions to staggered 2-year terms, from one year.  Consensus was that both these positions benefited from a year of experience, and the organization would be strengthened as a result of greater continuity of officers.

Annie Yetter is to incorporate these changes, and submit the revised proposal at the May PTO meeting.  It is hoped that the bylaws will be finalized at the June 2008 meeting.

Recruitment:  PTO needs to be recruiting officer nominees for the coming school year.  People were encouraged to talk about PTO as a way to be learn about  Capitol Hill, as a way to meet other parents, and as a way to connect with the larger school community.  We need names of likely candidates! 

The idea of incorporating a display of school activities at the 1-3^rd grade dance was discussed.  Jan Nixon and Carolyn Larson expressed how little was done to welcome families who come in after grade 1, and wondered how parents learn about what is offered at the school.  This needs further discussion and exploration. 

Meeting adjourned at 8:50 pm.  Next meeting Monday, May 5, 2008 from 6:30-8:30 pm, Room 1407. 

People attending meeting: Darlene Haecker; Carolyn Larson; Kristin Cleveland; Angie Taylor; Mary Bridgeman; Annie Yetter; Jan Nixon; Ed Davis; Julie Taylor; Randi Madisen; Annie Yetter

Respectfully submitted by Annie Yetter.