January 2011

Blue Heron PTO Minutes-January 31, 2011 7:00 Call to order A motion was made to approve the November minutes (S/A). December meeting was not held due to inclement weather. President’s Report – Kris Fredrick reported Movie Night was a success. Also reported the incoming Kindergarten meeting will be March 3, 2011 from 5:30 – 7:00. It will be an Open House style with Q&A in the gym. History players will be here Feb 23. Science Fair stipend not needed as Mrs. Gerst will do it as a volunteer this year and let the PTO know next year what the cost is/was. Renee Dietz, an ECFE teacher in the district, and board member for Centennial Area Education Foundation (CAEF) reported on CAEF. CAEF’s goal is to supplement schools with funding for projects with grants and scholarships. This year’s grant program recently finished. BHE received a grant for a before school reading and math program that will begin this month. CAEF also has a yearly Gala – to be held again in spring 2012. CAEF encourages BHE and/or the PTO to continue to apply for grants from CAEF. CAEF working on establishing leadership groups in the community to assist CAEF in reaching parents and organizations who may benefit from their assistance. Treasures Report - Kristi Herbrechtsmeyer reports approximately $17,000 in cash available through the PTO account. Principal’s Report – Mr. Melde reported Testing Fluency Reports will be distributed at conference time. MAP tests also done in some grades. Before school reading and math program to begin next week funded by CAEF – 100 kids signed up so far. Conferences coming up Thursday February 17th and Thursday February 24th. Other nights are available if needed. Several field trips coming up for many grades. Mr. Melde also extended an invitation to everyone for 7:00 pm Thursday, February 3rd in the Centennial District office board room. Deb Griffith will be speaking to the public about public education funding. The talk is designed to help answer questions about how education funding works. Teacher’s Report - no teachers present. Committee Reports - Artist in Residence – Denise Berger confirmed with Ann Roman she will be here for the full month of March at a cost of $1,0000 per week. She will provide art education to all grades. Movie Night – very successful. Kristi Herbrechtschmeyer reported some issues with parents not watching their children and children being out of control/inappropriate. Discussion was had regarding stopping the movie to request children behave appropriately and not setting up tables so kids cannot climb on them. Art Fair – rooms have been reserved and planning is moving along nicely. Funding Requests - • A motion was made for Tennis Equipment for physical education. Cost: $700.00. (S/A). • A motion was made for Basketball hoops. They can be cemented into the ground and move up and down. The district will install them and there may be small cost for set-up. Could be installed before the end of the year. Walk-a-thon proceeds intended to raise the money for this. Motion made, seconded and approved to allocate funds now and walk-a-thon proceeds will reimburse PTO . • A motion was made for 2 new Xylophones and two carts to transport them for the music department. Cost: $1500.00. (S/A). • A motion was made to fund the Accelerated Reading Program. BHE currently has a few quizzes (approx 50) for the program. Funding request includes access to all accelerated reading program quizzes available (thousands). If approved all staff would be trained on how to use the program. Students earn points and potential exists to earn rewards. Cost: $2,650.00 which includes teacher training, quizzes and upgrade fee. There will continue to be a yearly fee for all one hundred thousand quizzes. (S/A). PTO requests efforts be made to get additional teachers to use the program. • Motion made for $3,000 for Ann Roman for artist in residence for the month of March. (S/A). • Motion made for $300 for spring conference dinners (S/A). • Motion made for $30 for gifts for movie night middle school volunteers (S/A). • Motion made for $150 stipend for Mrs. Gerst for science fair (S/A). Meeting Adjourn: 8:22 Respectfully Submitted, Amy Koehnen