November 6, 2007

November PTA Meeting

November 6, 20076:30-8:00 pm

 Irvington School Library 

Attendance sheet filed with secretary. 

1. October minutes approved. 

 2. Andre Jackson will come for the Dec. meeting as he was not able to attend tonight. 

3. The gift wrap sale earned approximately $6600.  This was an increase from last year.   The pens were an incentive for students to make more sales.  Thanks to everyone who bought and sold items and especially to Cathy Percich and her class and Ms. Lafayette and her class who were the prize winners.  Thank you to Allison Leof for all your work coordinating this fundraiser.

 4. Laura Grimes gave an update on the in-school arts programs which are underway.  The kindergarten classes have found a good time for their visual arts and the rest of the details will be worked out shortly.  The budget still has a bit of a cushion. 

5. Garden Update - Great work parties. Thanks to all who organized and participated.  Kris has built the shed and a gate will be put up.  Staff will be offered plots first and then there will be an application process for community garden plots.  Volunteers are needed to help build the gate (carpenter), level the boxes and help with the winter plantings.  Planting trees on Friday November 9^th from 9am until 12pm.  

6. Site Council Update notes were available and are online. 

7. There will be an extracurricular planning meeting on Tuesday November 13^th from 6:30pm until 8:00pm in room 108A. 

8. The PTA still needs a fundraising chair. 

9. Chez Jose Fundraiser- Irvington will earn 10% of the gross intake of a specified evening’s profits.  Other schools have made about $300.  We need someone to coordinate the event. That person will need to do publicity and set up the event with the owner.  It can be marketed as a community building event or for a specific purpose.  Jan. 15^th would be a good date for the event. 

10. We still need a technology chair.  This person would help monitor the website and keep the information current.  It was suggested that perhaps older students could take an active role in this project.   

11. The website is being used to increase communication.  Cherie is posting In Touch. The idea of teachers using the website for homework assignments and other information was discussed.  Teacher’s email addresses will be in the directory this year. Auction updates are also posted. 

12. There is money in the extra-curricular budget for the registration fee of $99 for the National Spelling Bee.  Is this something people are interested in pursuing?  Cathy P. will ask the staff if anyone is interested in doing a spelling bee club at lunch time.  This has been done in the past.  Emily K. will get more details about the spelling bee and Kris will discuss it at the TAG meeting on Thursday. 

13.  Arnerich Massena & Associates, Inc. has been named the winner of the Volunteer Team Award at the first annual Community Leadership Awards, presented by the Invest in Others Charitable Foundation and InvestmentNews for their work at Irvington School.  Our school will be the recipient of a $10,000 award.  Ms. Macleod is meeting with Christine Arnerich to discuss how the funds will be used.  Irma will write a letter from the PTA expressing our gratitude.  It would also be great to call community newspapers to spread the news.  There have been wonderful programs run by Kate Degraw for our students because of the generosity of Arnerich Massena &Associates, Inc. In addition to this award, Jay and Cynthia - on behalf of the PTA and school - nominated them for the Spirit of Portland Award. 

14. An artist named John is constructing a bench on the school grounds.  In the spring students will help make it into a mosaic with tiles.  This was paid for with grant money. 

15. The PTA Clothing Center housed at Marshall Campus needs warm winter coats and jackets, jeans in all sizes, and shirts in size 6-12 and for teenagers.   Donations can be dropped off at the center any school day from 7:30am until 6:30pm. They can also be boxed and labeled for the Clothing Center at Marshall Campus and sent on the PONY.Monetary donations can be mailed to Jackee Duvall, Treas., 2246 SE 90th Ave., Portland, OR 97216 If you have specific questions please contact Sharon Meigh-Chang at 503-293-0783 or ptaclothingcenter@comcast.net   Irvington parents are scheduled to volunteer again in February.  This information will also be posted on the website.

16. The four main goals for the PTA this year were suggested. They include·      Stabilization/Viability of PTA·      Increase Communication·      Build Community + PTA·      Continue to provide financial support to Irvington School + responsibly manage those funds.  It was mentioned that the mission statement could be reworked to include the goals. 

17. Concern was expressed that there needs to be equitable access to extracurricular activities and that scholarships need to be available and communicated to families.  Traci Laurent is working on this issue. 

18. Doug gave an update on the facilities meeting.  There are preliminary discussions happening to determine future improvements.  There are many interesting and creative ideas being discussed.  The next meeting for NE will be held at Madison School on Jan 22nd.  Interested people should attend future meetings to learn and share ideas and opinions. 

19.  Treasurer’s Report.

•         Motion to reallocate the $2200 of unrestricted holdover expenditures from the boiler room shelves and custodial equipment back into the general fund.  Motion seconded and approved.
•         Discussion about sending out a letter requesting that people donate their kicker checks to Irvington.  Issues discussed included The Portland Foundation and whether or not we should be a part of the Foundation,  mentoring or donating to other schools or social service agencies who may need assistance and/or funds and the process of choosing which one or ones and how the letter should be distributed. Motion to send out a kicker donation request letter. Seconded and ApprovedMotion to send out the letter through a direct mailing of school families using the directory data base. Not approved.Motion to distribute the letter through Friday folders and through canvassing the neighborhood. Seconded and approved 

20. Pre-K at Irvington next year was discussed. Dr. Adair came to provide information about Pre-K programs currently in the district.  They range from Headstart to tuition based programs (at Richmond).  Ms. Macleod said that there will be a Pre-K program at Irvington next year but it is unknown who it will serve or how it will be administered.  It may or may not be IED. At this time letters in support of IED would be ineffectual. Space is an issue. 

 21. Space Issues for next year include:

• Science Lab
• Special Ed and Structured Learning Center
• The added 8^th grade
• Possibility of three kindergarten classes

Last updated by lmeilinger on Oct 24, 2008 at 01:33 PM

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