January 2024 PTSA Meeting Minutes
Date/Time: 1/12/24, 8:45am
Location: Lincoln Elementary School and Virtual
Facilitator: Anna Jennett, President
Board Members Present: Ryan Garrett, Technology Chair; Rory Salem, Membership Chair; Liz Mogno, Secretary; Anna Jennett, President; Doug Lazure, Treasurer, Dasha
Community Members Present: Lara Pomprowitz, Tera Orey, Stacy Berger, Allison Kahlich, Gina Gancheva, Amy Jones, Jen Holtzman, Emily Clark, Tunisha Hairston-Brown, Laura Carson, Tiffany Holub, Kate Gotter, Heidi Rose
Next Board Meeting: Date/Time/Location TBD
Lincoln PTSA Meeting Minutes
Call to Order: Anna called the meeting to order at 8:55am
Action Items: Motion to approve the minutes from December by Anna; Emily seconded, no motions for changes; all in favor; December meeting minutes approved.
Agenda Items/Today’s Objectives
Anna Jennett, President:
Agenda:
Welcome and procedural business
Old Business
New Business
Objectives:
Connect as a community
Review recent progress and upcoming priorities for Lincoln’s strategic plan
Update on Lincoln’s 23-24’ enrollment and budget projections
Call to action around PTSA board transition, volunteering, and fundraising
Anna Jennett, President:
**Please refer to slideshow January Community Meeting for more details and specific information**
-Agenda
-School Values (slide 6):
-Question from Laura Carson re: CKLA
-Answer: CKLA is literacy cirrcirulum that’s based on the science of reading; core knowledge of language arts
-If kids need reading supports at an increased level, they are supported by Tunisha Hairston-Brown and Jen Holtzman
-December highlights (slide 7)
-Volunteers (slide 9)
Board Transition (slide 10);
-Liz and Doug will continue on for another year
-Lara: when do the new positions transition?
-Elections can be pushed to May 2024 at the latest
-Dasha: should we send a specific communication to inform the community about the upcoming PTSA board transitions/needs to fill board positions?
-Positions that have to be filled are President and VP according to the bylaws
-Descriptions of each position are on the nominating committee form
-Tera: Reverse ask-if you have “X” amount of hours, you could fill this role
-This board has worked hard to make the transitions smooth to hand off and support the new incoming board
-You can nominate anyone, including yourself
-Gina: people need to know the time commitment for each role to make it work
Doug Lazure, Treasurer:
Budget and Fundraising slides (slides 11 and 12)
-we are ½ way there on fundraising
-Great feedback from the staff/teachers re: gifts; very appreciated
-Doug: I can provide budget/financials to corporate sponsors or others if needed to assist in getting more sponsors
-We are on track to meet our fundraising goals but need to keep up the momentum
Anna Jennett, President; Tera Orey, PIE Chair:
Partners in Education (PIE) (slide 13)
-Tera Orey has been managing however Anna will step in to help with the work
-Tera: there are missed opportunities with people or companies reaching out to be our presenting sponsors for school
-Promotion: Tax write off, free marketing, can have multiple presenting sponsors
-We have options for any business; you can do a banner on the school for $500
Restaurant Night (slide 14)
-Kate is ready to pass the baton; it’s a relatively easy role to fill and a good way to try new places in the community
-We have to have a minimum before they will cut us a check back
-Reach out to restaurants and especially places you give patronage
-Ideally within a one mile radius however this can be flexible
Emily Clark, Principal:
Strategic Plan (slides 17-27)
-How we demo grace and caring and working through difficult situations
-Tier 1-everyone gets it
-Tier 2-needs support
-Equitable support for school supplies was a wonderful shift/help/success to ensure all students/teachers have what they need
-Teacher wellness has been very helpful
-Big thanks to Sarah and Daniel Sze for designing the great new logo!
-Substitute budget comes from school budget
-We’ve seen more families enroll mid-year
-Looking at systems at how we’ve providing support to new families from all areas/aspects
Emily Clark, Principal:
School Choice and Enrollment (slides 28-33):
-peak enrollment is 290 not including ECE; including ECE would be 350
-We received assistance to continue the work we’re doing
-Dr. J helping Lower El classrooms and working with Montessori primary during their AMPED time
-Anna has been working a lot on marketing
-Having a parent perspective on the tours is super helpful, please volunteer to help with school tours if you’re able
-It can be an emotional thing for many parents and can be really helpful to talk with another parent/peer.
-Tours are Mon afternoons and thursday mornings, they take about 45 minutes
-Emily: we are a small school but not so small that the per pupil budget doesn’t impact our needs
-School choice is now open-good initial response
-Last year we exceeded the district’s projected enrollment number, they projected lower which Emily contested
-Emily: asking for what keeps our school running from the district budget
-Enrollment call to action-more yard signs, school tours, sharing the work that we’re doing
Other Business
Multiple members contributing
General Discussion Items:
-Heidi has a new student teacher from UNC; Heidi and Mrs. Jones started at Lincoln as student teachers
-Could use help to reach out to other colleges to promote student teaching opportunities here which can lead to long term positions
-Stacy: what is the approach when a teacher is gone for an extended period of time for any reason
-Emily: teacher continually writes sub plans for each day they are gone
-Jen H: when teachers are gone, other staff are aware and step in to help and monitor; Tunisha steps in to help with CKLA
-CSC-changes will be coming over the summer; new ECE playground will move behind the amphitheater closer to the ECE classrooms, swings will be moved to current ECE playground, new shade structures will be placed. -Received grant from DPS sustainability dept for garden structure support
-Need a landscape architect to help inform a master plan for any changes to the remaining playground
-New soccer goals have been purchased since Laps fundraiser and they are a big help
-Amphitheater option for learning
-Teacher communication monthly
-Currently in assessment window; mid january is when data will be sent out
-Request for more information on what iStation scores mean and how parents can access
Closing
Closing & Reminders
Emily motioned to adjourn the meeting at 10am,, all in favor, meeting adjourned.
Next Board Meeting: DATE, TIME, LOCATION- TBD