Present: Carey Cort, Joanna Wills, Kerry McGinty, Ruth Hodges, Sue Wolff, Denise Gieseke, Tricia McGean, Susan Pease, Polly Frankel, Susan Salm, Janet Ready, Caroline Boeckman, Cindy Sweetser, Fan Watkinson, Margie Brown, Debbie Page, Gina Halsted, Ann Rothenberg, Patty Spencer, Anne Favaloro, Ellen Matathia, Paul Naso, Nancy Marshall, Sandy Storer, Laurie Manos, Mary Pappas, Jan Nyquist, Mickey Brandmeyer, Poppy Milner, Sophia Spiliakos, Jennifer Andonian, Amanda Hill

8:30: Call to order

Sock Hop report - Debbie Page and Margie Brown
Scheduled for Friday, January 30. Will have Southwestern/Latin theme. Sign-up sheet for added volunteers passed. Lincoln families are urged to invite Boston classmates to spend the night with a return bus to Boston available on Saturday morning. Seeking raffle items. Pre-sale tickets will be lower priced.

METCO Celebration report - Gina Halsted
Boston/Lincoln METCO celebration to take place this Sunday from 4-6pm at home of Margie Topf.

March Community Enrichment - Trish McGean & Susan Pease
Lego Engineering evening informational program on March 2 and robot-making project on March 9.
Wild Willie's Western Dance night scheduled for Fri., Feb. 6 at Brooks Gym.

Annual Giving Drive - Joanna Wills
129 families contributing so far, $18,000 is 2/3 of way to goal. (Average gift size is $145 down from $160 last year.) Some larger gifts still expected to come in. Back-pack notice will go home as a reminder and Lincoln Journal article hoped to encourage more donations.

Book Room Dedication - Nancy Marshall
Dedication of book room scheduled for January 27 with Joanne McManus to speak.

VOTE to accept December minutes. Amendment to November minutes was noted based on correction presented by Christina Horner noting that the Lincoln METCO parent group was an additional sponsor of the METCO Forums with a $2000 donation last spring.

Superintendent's Report - Mickey Brandmeyer
The principal search/hiring process will require much input from the whole school and wider community. Candidates' skills, qualities and attributes are all open for consideration. The process is multi-faceted and must be allowed to unfold fully. The time line for conducting interactions and visits here and at candidate's sites is ambitious and must allow time for a second search if need be. There must be a match between the candidate and the community profile. There will be many chances for parents and community to meet the candidates and provide feedback
Question from audience: What is the principal's job description?
M.B. response: There is some overlap between the principal's and Paul Naso's jobs and the two will need to work as a team on those areas. The same holds true for budget and management tasks. The building-based budget must be built and managed by the principal alone. Teacher supervision and evaluation is the direct responsibility of the principal alone.

Question: Should middle school have its own principal?
Response: The issue has been discussed, but currently the K-8 structure is in place. The original decision to organize as a K-8 model was partly driven by the difficulty in finding a middle school principal who would stay on the job. Differing opinions exist as to whether we are better served by a K-8 model or an elementary and separate middle school model. Hopefully, a strong principal will be able to illuminate this discussion.
Comment: The candidate's skill set should include the ability to move the school forward.
Response by Paul Naso: The principal must be able to conduct the daily management and operations of the school while acting as a unifying force, or "glue", across the grade levels.
Comment: Candidate should have an awareness of the importance of arts education.
Comment: The new principal should have an exemplary teaching record since a principal is really a "principal teacher." The principal should also be able to choose areas in which he or she particularly seeks to accomplish something great.
Several comments: The principal needs to focus on the special abilities and needs of middle schoolers.
M.B. response: A great candidate should not be discounted for lack of teaching experience in the middle school grades. However, acknowledges a need for a candidate with passionate commitment to middle school education.
Comment: Could the search committee have 2 parents and teachers representing the middle school?
M.B. response: Possibly the PTA representative selected could act as a middle school advocate.
Comment: The search committee should include someone from the high school to better illuminate the expectations for student achievement by completion of middle school.
Comment: Candidate should have a child-centric view.
Comment: Candidate should have a record of good parent relations and staff supervision, as well as a motivating attitude.
Comment: Candidate should have a hands-on management style with ability to react flexibly to the need for change.
Comment: Candidate should have awareness of need for middle school program that accommodates the developmental/behavioral challenges presented by middle schoolers.
Comment: Candidate should be creative at utilization of local resources.
Question: What financial constraints are there on the search process?
M.B. response: No formal cap exists. We can recognize special qualities and experience.
Mickey encourages further communication of any additional comments and suggestions.

Assistant Superintendent's Report - Paul Naso
Purpose of the Entry Plan was to gather information to form the basis for judgments about how to coordinate the district's direction and decision making regarding curriculum. This process revealed certain priorities widely held by parents and teachers. See "DOMINANT THEMES IN ENTRY MEETING DISCUSSIONS" handout (or get a copy from Paul Naso's office.) The priorities for the next 6 months include teacher involvement in all curricular areas, rather than a focus on a single subject area. All faculty will be engaged in ongoing curriculum work.

Discussion and voting on funding proposals
The total $10,000 was not reached in requests for PTA funding, which was deemed fortuitous since income numbers appear to be down from budgeted.
Proposal #1 - Lincoln School Safety Program funding from Jerry Schultz for $747.07
After much discussion about the importance of this list of items, there was a motion and VOTE all in favor to table this proposal with the recommendation that it become a line item within the School Budget.
Proposal #2 - Lincoln School Book Collection Room funding from Brenda Hedden for $ 1000.
A motion and VOTE was made all in favor (Nancy Marshall abstaining) of funding without contingencies or restrictions. Sandy Storer volunteers to facilitate the collection of publicly donated copies of certain mass market series that may be helpful additions to the collection. The PTA's previous financial support to this project came via a $1000 donation to the Joanne McManus Literacy fund.
Proposal #3 - World Languages performance of Latin American music for grades 6-8 from Karena Hansen for $800. After discussion, this appeared to be a valuable program to which the World Language Department should be entitled, but that funds would more appropriately come through the existing Assemblies & Enrichment budget. A motion and VOTE was made all in favor to approve $400 from the Assemblies & Enrichment budget with the understanding that the Lincoln Cultural Council will fund the remaining $400 for the program. If additional funds are needed by the A&E grade 6-8 cluster to cover this expense, they will be allocated.
Proposal #4 - Outdoor Chess Table from Sandy Storer for $1945
A motion and VOTE all in favor (Sandy Storer abstaining) to approve $2000 for the purchase of this equipment with installation to be coordinated by the Recreation Department.
Proposal #5 Lincoln Public School Extended Year Program from Catherine Smits for $5000.
After much discussion and general consensus about the value and excellence of this program, it was moved and VOTED all in favor to decline the request as the PTA is not the appropriate funding vehicle for this type of proposed curriculum development project. Discussion included the fact the Extended Year Program benefits students who are required by law to be serviced through the school budget. It was decided that a letter would be written stating the PTA's opinion that it is the School Committee's duty to advocate for this type of curriculum development which is an appropriate and important part of the school budget. Alternatively it was agreed that, after a curriculum has been developed and implemented, the PTA will welcome a future request for funding of a project that is more narrowly focused on enrichment activities.
Proposal #6 Cancer Support Literature & Guided Reading Literature from Nancy Pollock for $779.34
This request was discussed in two parts. Regarding the Cancer Support literature, much discussion took place and included the unanimous belief that a collection of such highly sensitive materials must be specifically housed and dispensed with the collaboration of the Guidance and Social Work staff. The proposed selection of literature was perceived to emphasize losses to cancer, and it was suggested that the collection should be broadened to include issues of life with cancer and parenting with cancer. Bibliotheraputic materials covering a wider range of family crisis issues were also suggested. It was moved and VOTED all in favor that the request for this part of the funding be declined for now, but that the PTA would consider a future request (at the March meeting) that takes the above mentioned concerns about the housing, distribution and composition of the collection into consideration.
Regarding the Guided Reading Literature it was moved and VOTED all in favor that the $250 request be funded subject to collaboration with Brenda Hedden on the use of the Book Room to house and catalog the literature. The funds will be included in those granted to Brenda Hedden in Proposal #2, though earmarked for the literature specified in this proposal. It was also suggested that Nancy Pollock conduct an instructional program for grade 4-6 teachers on the effective use of this specialized material. The hope was also expressed that Nancy could update the PTA on the success of this initiative.

Financial update - Jan Nyquist
Tax returns are due in 9 days and presenting a challenge since former PTA treasurer Dough Swain has suddenly withdrawn his offer of preparing them. A replacement preparer is hastily being sought, and it is hoped that Doug may agree to apply for a filing extension, and/or work with the replacement or take on the task for a fee.
Sandy reports that the $1040 set aside in prior years for maintenance of the green playground is no longer needed and is therefore available for other outdoor recreational uses.
Meeting adjourned 11:50
Minutes respectfully submitted, Amanda Hill
Next meeting Tuesday, February 3, 2004