Minutes of the Lincoln School PTA Board meeting
December 3, 2002 - 8:15 am - Hartwell Multipurpose room

Present: Ruth Hodges, Gabrielle Brenninkmeyer, S. Denise Gieseke, Cindy Sweetser, Carolyn Montie, Joanna Wills, Mary Pappas, Janet Ready, Donica Hadley, Susan Winship, Sandy Storer, Nancy Fleming, Carey Cort, Amie Barrie, Doug Swain, Julie Dobrow, Jan Nyquist, Polly Frankel, Kerry McGinty, Jennifer Andonian, Gina Halsted, Ashton Perry, Heidi Derbyshire, Jenifer Burckett-Picker, Fan Watkinson, Amanda Hill

Call to order and thanks from Julie Dobrow to:
-Mary Pappas for creating a PTA website, including hyperlink for schoolcash.com. Mary asks for any info and ideas to include on site. Suggestion made for "Upcoming Events."
-Penny Rustica and Alex Goldberg for Ski & Skate Sale.
-Sandy Storer for work on parent discussions regarding 1st grade issue.
-Sophia Spiliakos , Sonja Wolfsberg and Jennifer Andonian for continued membership successes. PTA has received "Certificate of Achievement" for increased membership levels and Doug an "early bird" award for national dues payment. Current membership = 257.

Business:
Julie seeks volunteers to prepare holiday cookie baskets for various school offices and personnel.

Middle School Parent Discussion Night arose out of Task Force recommendations, scheduled for spring.

Julie gives many thanks to Social Coordinators Polly F., Tricia O. and Bonnie H. for all food support at school events, which has gone far above and beyond original duties of PTA hospitality position. Julie raises issue of need to establish reasonable boundaries for PTA hospitality efforts, which can be a drain on PTA financial resources and human energy. Polly describes additional concern of promoting an erroneous PTA image. Many present share opinion that PTA over generously supports through food, and that less lavish/frequent hospitality offerings should become the norm. However, many feel that School Committee continues to be a worthy beneficiary of PTA hospitality (and Jan assures that it is very much appreciated.)
Agreed that Social Coordinators will cut back on the horn of plenty and make suggestions to other community organizations to step up to the hospitality plate.

Discussion @ current budget situation. Jan emphasizes patience required by all during the evolving process of budget building. Many ideas currently on table regarding 0% budget goal, but no accurate picture of what school will look like will be possible for some time. Many present made recommendations, including formation of "Override Committee" and morning forums to inform community and address concerns. Reminder that School Committee meetings are not the best forums to express concerns, but that budget updates from S.C. will be crucial. Emphasis on need for a continuous flow of information, starting now, to inform community about budget repercussions, rather than facing a frenzy of support/awareness raising in March before Town Meeting. Some discussion about appropriate role for PTA in this effort. Reminder about LWV as a vehicle. Point made that web site can also include information.

Donica Hadley:
-Cheryl Hirshman would like to start Lincoln School endowment.
-Teachers request a publicity bulletin board for flyers rather than school's front door.
-Teachers request access to PTA Student Directories. VOTE to allocate funds to Xerox directories for teachers.
-Brenda Hedden requests two videos and indoor recess games. Sandy S. will look into request.
Sandy S. transmits request for PTA to sponsor a pizza lunch for children of participants in next scheduled "Revved up Reading" workshops. Request denied. See earlier food discussion.

Jerry Schultz:
"Revved Up Reading" program so successful in grade 2 that new program started for grade 1. Trainings for volunteers to occur in Dec. and Jan. on a Wednesday. Jerry thanks Sandy S. for her help.

Judy and Jerry will speak to S.C. about items that need to be cut. Teacher moral is still good.
Teachers composing a counterpoint to Task Force recommendations.
Staff development is ongoing.
Recent MCAS math scores decline will be create heightened focus on math curriculum: improvements sought not just for remedial students, but gifted as well. Some hope to start math version of "Revved Up Reading." A request is made to Jerry to share analysis of MCAS scores with parents.
A request is made for more curriculum-based substitute teacher plans.

Process for Requesting PTA Financial Support forms:
Updated version shared with Board by Jan N. She recommends waiting until March for next request session to take place at March meeting when school's needs will be better understood. Discussion surrounds need to define PTA mission to clarify funding guidelines and choices. Julie seeks volunteers to review and renew PTA mission statement.
One suggestion made to set aside some money for allocation of funding of current ideas. Counter suggestion that only Jerry should handle out of cycle fund requests. Recent request for funds for grade 6-8 field trip will be re-routed to Jerry to fund out of (PTA donated) scholarship fund. Buses are not within scope of PTA funding.
Decided that Julie will amend the "Process" form to add concrete examples and guidelines defining appropriate requests for PTA funding.

VOTE to accept November minutes. Attention drawn to Nancy Marshall as author of S.C. Observer Minutes included along with monthly email of PTA agenda and minutes. Also, please correct Jayne Mundt's email address to Jaynem6@aol.com

Treasurer's Report: Doug Swain, Jan Nyquist
Revenue concerns - numbers looking softer. Reminder to be aware of spending limits. Question raised about cash reserve amount. Explained that it is required to ensure cash flow in fall prior to income from fund raising. $2,700 unspent from budgeted. Hospitality is one of only two areas over budget.(see earlier discussion)

Annual Giving Drive: Nancy Fleming
Telephone campaign after holidays will probably bump up giving to budgeted level. Will also publish names of givers. Currently have received approximately $14,000 from 140 families (avg. gift $140). Gina Halsted credited with boosting Boston families participation last year. She will fundraise again. Reminder to Board to donate. Reminders that many families already feel they are giving through the numerous other fundraisers and volunteer efforts.

Ways and Means - Jenifer Burcket Picker
Gift Wrap sale should net $15,000 ultimately. Ski and Skate under this year due to date - will renegotiate for next year. Soccer coffee doing well so far - $824 for fall. Cook Books will go on sale at end of January. PTA cost $4 - sale price $10. Advance sale coupons available at Book Fair. Sock Hop scheduled for Feb. 7. Fun Run for late April/early May.

Superintendent's Report: Mickey Brandmeyer
Praised Task Force Report for quality data collection and analysis. Provides a great foundation for implementing changes. Administrative council will be responding with an Action Plan. Once budget question is settled, will begin process of public forums and subcommittees.
Question posed to Mickey about lack of responses to Task Force questionnaire from other comparable schools, particularly Harvard. Most schools did respond, but huge effort involved in completing the survey prohibited some. Much info is not public info.
Middle School Forum in Feb. or March will be good venue for parental input. Board member requests administration to inform parent community about "best practices", possibly via pertinent reading list.
Mickey questions value of Wednesday half days and elective program when pressure exists to add to core curriculum time.
Budget: Mickey will be proposing a mathematics content specialist for curriculum alignment and professional development. Also a math tutor replacement. Reductions in personnel will involve eliminating one new position and one health assistant. Also considering revenue sources. Kindergarten may become full day optional with tuition. Also possible adjustment in fee structure for transportation program. Old model that required 4 content area teachers in middle school is debunked - next year grade 6 team will be reduced to 3 teachers. One goal of budget is providing sufficient teacher planning time.
Board member emphasizes that core programmatic elements need to be identified so that support is not cut. Question raised about possible benefits of two principals. Could be discussed in FY05.
MCAS results being tabulated. Cycle 2 ratings for Lincoln are "moderate" in math and "declining" in making improvement. In response, Mickey will be asking S.C. for a specialist in math which he sees as superceding science in importance currently.
Julie and Mickey have been discussing joint production of Parent Pages to provide a School Department communication vehicle. Budget and override message would be first issue subject.
Ashton Perry comments on a question about conflict between budget limitations and school philosophy. He states that although past fiscal crisis drove philosophy, the current situation has been anticipated and a community-based vision needs to be articulated that will balance finances and goals. Lincoln School philosophy need not be abandoned, but consciously deliberated.

Community Enrichment: Carey Cort
Family Night Out planned for March 8. Performers will be Roots of American Dance, historical overview demonstration with six-piece band, $2,500.

Assemblies & Enrichment:
Janet R. - Food play program to take place before January.
Ruth H. & Fan W.- Abraham Lincoln for grade 8, Islamic specialist presented to grade 7, ArtQuest-Greek art program for grade 6 and Egypt for grade 7.
Diane P. & Susan P. - (not present, but submitted list of past and 8 upcoming programs for grades K-2, as well as 3 additional in planning.)

METCO - Gina Halsted
Reverse visiting but to Kennedy Library scheduled for Dec. 14
Middle school program instituted as academic achievement incentive with ski program reward.

Brief discussion of proposed collaboration with School Department on Parent Pages. School will pay any new costs incurred. Merits and alternatives to Parent Pages discussed. Insufficient members remaining to make any conclusive decisions.

Meeting adjourned 11:50 am.
Next meeting: Tuesday, January 7 - Hartwell Multipurpose room
Respectfully submitted, Amanda Hill