August 20 Meeting Notes

PTO Meeting Minutes |     August 20, 2019 | 6:00pm
 Lansdowne Elementary Media Center
Attendance: 30




Welcome and Introductions                                    Haley Miedema

Haley introduced the  the 2019-2020 PTO Board
Co-Presidents - Liz Hartzog and Haley Miedema
Vice President - Karen Kelley
Treasurer - Elizabeth Purdie
Secretary - Jennifer Needham (absent)
Admin Assistant- Suzanne Rallis (absent)
Past Presidents - April Storey and Courtney Farris

Faculty present:  Mr. Dussek, Mrs. Blacker, Mrs. Williams, Mrs. Linebarrier, Mrs. Crisp

PTO Business Items - Liz Hartzog
Approval of Standing Rules                
-Drafted and revised in 2018
-Any expenditure over $750 requires board vote
-Rules were approved

PTO Budget 2019-2020 - Elizabeth Purdie
-The Budget was distributed
-Income - largest is Fun Run, then BoxTops/HT Together in Education Program, Hungry Howies, Corporate gifts and Membership drive 
-Largest expenses - classroom supplies for teachers, field trips, school building resources (i.e playground accessories, library books, music supplies)
-No technology line item - we have some in reserves for that
-PTO Board line item - sitter for meetings, coffee for staff lounge, bereavement

How to Request PTO Funding - Elizabeth Purdie
-Distributed and reviewed staff application forms for PTO funding

New Grant Request Form - Liz Hartzog
-Distributed and reviewed grant form for non-budgeted items

Volunteer Recruitment- Liz Hartzog
 -we have immediate needs on the Copy Crew--contact Jessica.hasley@gmail.com, or Tracey Keller, as she has offered to head up the committee
-some event co-chair spots are also available

New Website: www.lansdownePTO.org - Courtney Farris
-old weebly site will automatically direct you to new site
-can download calendar to your phone
-has links for membership, spirit rock rental link and sign-up genius links for events

Announcements

Sprout School Supplies - Haley Miedema for Jessica Hasley
-can pick up Thursday at Open House or PTO will deliver to your child’s classroom before the first day

School Store - April Storey
-will just sell clothing (no toys in case) during staggered entry week
-store will be open Fridays 8:45 - 9:15
-possible new merchandise coming later this year

Room Parents    - Karen Kelley
-sign up sheets available in classrooms at Open House
-Kindergarten parents can also sign up at open house and Karen will contact them after students get teacher assignments
-training session in September for room parents - date TBD, probably 9/23

Upcoming Events
School Spirit Nights - April Storey
-Hungry Howie’s - 1st Thursday of the month
-Various restaurants will be 3rd Thursday - to be announced

Fun Run--October 24th - Haley Miedema/Candler Tindall    
-our largest fundraiser 
-we use Boosterthon but still need lots of volunteers
-need corporate sponsors for T-shirts
-pep rally Oct 11

Principal’s Update - Penni Beth Crisp
-announced new staff members
-student count today is 575 - this is 20 over where we should be
-97 kindergarteners
-current class sizes:  K - 18-19; 1st - 18; 2nd/3rd - 19-20; 4th - 22-23; 5th - 24-25
-there is a waiting list for every grade level
-staffing - ½ position available, hoping to get full position, if not we will use ½ position for a reading intervention specialist
-explained the staggered entry process for first week of school
-Lobby Guard - must sign in at the front office with ID with every visit to the school
-expect late buses the first week - she and Mrs. Williams will stay at school until the last child is dropped off - she will send ConnectEd for late buses
-will send ConnectEd every Sunday night at 5:00 PM
-Here Comes the Bus app is helpful
-EOY activities are slightly different this year - 5th grade celebration is off site with bus transportation, Field Day moved to next to last day of school
-next school year we start on Aug 31 due to the RNC in Charlotte
-Carmel Baptist donated $2500 to fund an easel in each classroom and for each student to have a whiteboard
-the staff were given new T-shirts from the PTO 
-new school Aug 2021 - there will be another community engagement meeting this fall; we will see some work beginning in March, will be 2 stories and take 2 years to build; direction the building will face is still TBD; unsure of the status of the Panther playground; we will be blending with 2 communities as the Elizabeth Lane Elem. families will be coming to LES - about 200-250 kids
-Mrs. Blacker and Mrs. Crisp worked very hard to attain the status of Certified National Magnet School - the only school in CMS with this distinction!

Next meeting: Tuesday September 24 at 6:00 PM 

Meeting minutes compiled by Karen Kelley