Present:
Polly Frankel, Ruth Hodges, Gina Halsted, Diane Pagano, Jennifer Andonian, Sonja Wolfsberg, Sophia Spiliakos, Cindy Sweetser, Mary Pappas, Carey Cort, Janet Ready, Nancy Fleming, Susan Winship, Nancy Marshall, Susan Pease, Gabrielle Brenninkmeyer, Karen Salvucci, Jenifer Burckett-Picker, Doug Swain, Shelda Chickles, Julie Dobrow, Jan Nyquist, Amanda Hill, Debbie Page, Leslie Halllowell

Call to order and thanks from Julie to:
All who prepared food and clean-up at Mickey Brandmeyer's party (Jan N. added thanks on behalf of the School Committee); Gabrielle B., Kerry M., Bonnie H. and Trisha O. for refreshments at Task Force lecture and to Mary P. and Maureen H. for publicity for same; Bonnie, Polly F. and Trisha for refreshments at Open House; Gabrielle for PTA membership promotion at Open House; Nancy F., Susan W. and Sandy S. for organizing room parent meeting; Karen S. for letter to Lincoln Journal encouraging fundraising efforts - also Mary P.; Nancy M. for upcoming letter to solicit community volunteers.

Issue raised about parking crunch in Hartwell parking lot for meetings impinging on Magic Garden morning drop off. All are encouraged to park in Brooks lot and walk.

Donica Hadley: Thanks to PTA for providing Open House teacher dinners. Teachers request PTA cookbook. Teachers are working w/Nancy M. on grants. Question about "New Teacher" fund gifts ~ Doug S. responds he will be issuing $100 checks to all new classroom teachers.

Debate @ library staffing - Question raised about whether PTA can pay for an assistant. Decided it is not a PTA function to pay salaries. Discussion @ possible private foundation set up to raise money for library assistant (much as was done for classroom aides in past.) Possible Holiday Party to raise needed funds. Need to get hard number for cost of assistant. Suggested to have Jerry assess where funds most needed.

Jan N. - Fundraising issues beyond PTA and LSF needs are arising. May face future fiscal situation where all aides in school will need to be privately funded. Possibility of outreach to Lincoln School alums for fundraising. Suggests creating group to consider sources of broader community financial support. The media/library issue is a School Committee concern.

VOTE to accept Secretary's minutes of 9/10/02 with spelling correction "Burckett."

Treasurers Report: Doug S.
September was not overly active. $4000 for general field trips and $3000 for Principal's discretionary fund have been paid. Memorial gifts in process. Biggest focus for fall will be completion of IRS form 990.

Julie D. - Proposes allocation of money for middle school recess recreational equipment. Other suggestions include purchase of equipment storage units only, student donations of equipment, Student Council involvement in equipment care/management policy, shed donation by Boy Scouts. Jan suggests using money in existing playground fund after checking on funds needed for maintenance with Rec. Dept.
VOTE to provide and extra $200 to the existing $800 playground fund for new equipment/storage items.

Gabrielle B. requests more eye-catching signage to enhance membership recruitment at Open Houses.

Nancy Marshall -Meeting w/Mickey Brandmeyer to discuss grants. Afternoon program planned to acquaint teachers w/possible grant sources. Eventually will request PTA funds for Professional Development speaker to address teachers @ grant writing. Website of PTO Today has extensive grant info.

Ways & Means -Jenifer Burckett-Picker
Request for volunteers for Soccer Coffee call Joanne Wise 2 259-1743. Ski & Skate will be Nov. 9. Wrapping Paper in process. Fun Run planned for early May. Parent-child tennis tournament possible for spring. Cookbooks can be produced @ 200 for $2.55 each with 150 recipes.

Karen Salvucci - Some Spirit Wear sales made at Open House and Picnic. Boxtops in process. Suggestion made to increase student participation with class challenge contest.
Integrated Preschool Info Session: Gail Eddy & Jeanne Whitten presenting
Magic Garden is a private/public integrated (full-day) preschool. In its public capacity, it is mandated to provide an education in the least restrictive environment for Lincoln's special needs students integrated with typically developing children. Currently 9 Lincoln special needs students are enrolled. Lincoln School staff and administrators are employed by the town at M.G. to support our non-tuitional students. However, the collaborative nature of teaching in the school means that many M.G. employees also interact with Lincoln School students. All M.G. teachers are members of the Lincoln Teachers' Union. (Hanscom's Integrated Preschool is also housed at M.G., but in separate classroom facilities, with some overlap of specialist personnel.) M.G. is open to tuition paying non-Lincoln residents, but since priority is given to Lincolnites, and due to limited spaces, there will be no non-Lincoln students in a few years.
Much discussion was generated @ the possibility/wisdom of expanding the PTA's mission to include pre-K families. The point was made that in order to support schools in the current economic climate, an expanded support base w/in the community beyond the K-8 families is needed. A counterpoint was made that for PTA to include preschool families in its mission, reciprocal parental support in the form of contributions and volunteerism would be needed. The alternative of separate Pre-School PTAs such as in Lexington was noted.
The issue of last year's Teacher Luncheon was raised, and Gail Eddy said she was not under the impression that there was any strong opinion among M.G. employees that the PTA needed to expand its mission to include preschool.
Decision to consider the formation of a subcommittee with Nancy M., Susan W. and Julie D., along with town preschool directors to consider an expanded mission onlyn AFTER further discussion by the PTA Board.

Superintendent's Report - Mickey Brandmeyer
A brief description of the development of the district's goals was made - the document has been the result of input from many sources, including administrators, School Committee, Jerry Schultz and faculty, PTO at Hanscom. A draft of "Lincoln Public Schools: District Goals 2002-2003 and Beyond" was passed out for Lincoln PTA input today. It describes 4 goals established by the School Committee and then 6 categories of Action Steps that the district will undertake to meet these goals. (See Draft) Mickey stressed that future budget building, with any associated cuts and/or override requests will be informed by the implementation of the goals. He will make a mid-year report (February?) to the School Committee about progress towards goal implementation. A S.C. liaison will be assigned to each of the goal areas to enhance oversight and ownership.
Much input ensued. Point raised that excellence in education seems underemphasized due to lack of attention to gifted student. Point raised that this year's 7th grade field trip to Washington is out of sync with curriculum that is not taught until 8th grade. Point made that Middle School teachers' hours are kept lower than necessary due to our K-8 system model (rather higher number in a separate middle school). Point made that the Essential Question for category IV should include reference to hoped for result of highly motivated staff. Point raised that improved communication w/community is key to dealing with upcoming financial hardships. Jan N. noted that this is one of her main focuses on the S.C. Point made that implementation of goals should include hard copies of records documenting progress of each of the 48 Action Steps that can be examined by the public. Mickey Brandmeyer responds that he hopes to have such a record available by mid-year. Point made that the reference to METCO in the Action Steps of the Annual Goals implies that the program is expected to be a continuing part of the school. Mickey agrees this is hoped for, but cites potential threat based on Task Force findings.

Mickey B. concludes by clarifying his suggestion that the PTA should reflect our Pre-K - 8 district system. However, he stated that he does not see PTA funding of pre-K programs as a necessity in this arrangement.

Mickey Brandmeyer receives compliments from Board members on level of work involved in preparing the Annual Goals. He cites credit shared by its many contributors.

Sophia S. reports that as of today, 207 memberships have been received totaling $6,810.

Assemblies & Enrichment
Janet R. - attended WSAC meeting. Meetings with teachers in process. Draft of programs passed out.
Diane P. - Has met w/ grade team leaders. First program of year booked.
Ruth H. - Changes in the grades 7 & 8 programs are influencing programs - starting from scratch, few repeats. Finding some good math and science possibilities. Looking for hard-to-find Middle East, India, and World Religions programs. Bus funding a continuing problem. Hope to find in-school options.

Community Enrichment- Gabrielle Brenninkmeyer
October 15 is next Task Force sponsored lecture. Larger attendance is hoped for.
State of Town Meeting to be held Oct. 19. S.C. is one group that will be presenting then.
November 19 Task Force will present initial findings.
Jerry S. has requested some sort of Police/Fire Dept. event on Oct 18 or 25. Discussion arose @ PTA participation in upcoming Police & fire Ball. VOTED to allocate $300 to purchase a table (10 seats) at the event, and offer tickets to School personnel who might like to attend.

METCO update - Gina Halsted
The most recent meeting in Boston, conducted by METCO Director Christine Horner, had a standing-room-only audience. Two Boston parents are interested in the available position on School Committee.
METCO Coordinating Committee is starting a new program for METCO girls to invite a Lincoln student to a monthly Lincoln venue outing. This month, the 5th grade girls will be going to Ellen Morgan's for a sewing event.

Susan W.- Encouraged PTA participation in Town Pool tile fundraising event by purchasing/designing a tile @ $125.
Discussion ensued with decision to VOTE $1000 to purchase 9 tiles, one to be designed by each grade K-8 for the PTA.

Nancy Marshall - Annual Giving Drive letter will be going out soon. Suggestion to include PTA membership pitch was decided against. Reminder to PTA Board to achieve 100% participation in Drive.

Meeting adjourned 11:30 am
Next meeting Tuesday, November 5, 8:15am Harwell Multipurpose Room

Respectfully submitted,
Amanda Hill