September Meeting Minutes
Location: Lincoln Elementary School (library) and Zoom
Date: September 1, 2023; 8:45am
Facilitator: Anna Jennett, PTSA President
Board Members Present: Anna Jennett, President; Michelle Marshall, Vice President; Liz Mogno, Secretary; Doug Lazure, Treasurer; Rory Salem, Membership Chair and Merchandise; Sarah Szekeresh, Communications Chair; Dasha Hevenor, Enrichments Chair; Ryan Garrett, Technology Chair; Tera Orey
Community Members Present: Emily Clark, Amy Jones, Katy Downie, Lara Promprowitz, Allison Kahlich, Ms. Montoya, Gina Gancheva, Kate
Schilb-Gotter, Katherine Berman, Amy Kenreich, Mark Mildenberger, Kristen Berg, Ty Amass, Nicole Garrett, Ingrid Achhorner, Krystal
MacMillan, Erik Pedersen, ?phone number attendee on zoom
Next Board Meeting: DATE/TIME/LOCATION TBD
Lincoln PTSA Meeting Minutes
Call to Order: Anna Jennett called meeting to order at ~9:35am
Action Items:
Michelle made a motion to approve the August meeting minutes, all in favor. Motion
passed.
Agenda Items: Anna Jennett, PTSA President
● Welcome
● New PTSA Secretary: Liz Mogno
● Strategic Plan Update: Looking to 23-24
● Update from Emily on Enrollment
● Budget Presentation and Discussion
● Budget Vote
● Volunteers
Anna Jennett, PTSA President
● Updates and Celebrations-please refer to slides for details
● PTSA 101: We’re a network of CO parents + teachers
● Purpose: Make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families to advocate for all children
● Members: President, VP,, Secretary, Treasurer, Communications, Fundraising, Enrichments, Volunteer Coordinator, Technology, Membership
● Core work: In support of Lincoln’s strategic plan, Lincoln’s PTSA builds community, facilitates volunteerism, supports educational enrichment, and raises funds to support our school!
Anna Jennett, PTSA President; Emily Clark, School Principal; Michelle Marshall, VP
● Strategic Planning Update-Please refer to slides outlining strategic plan for 23-24 posted to PTSA website.
● Additional notes re: strategic planning:
● Emily mentioned the work in progress designing spaces in strategic plan
● Outdoor spaces- we’ve been awarded grant funding through the ECE stabilization grant to fund two shade structures for the playground; we’re getting a new ECE playground next and continuing to work with CSC in reimagining our spaces
● West Wash Park is considered a “park desert” which is why Lincoln is always so busy on the playground
● CSC= Collaborative School Committee: board made up of teacher and parent involvement; anyone can attend the meetings, all virtual meetings, first one is 9/12/23 at 4pm; they also work on budget in collaboration with PTSA
● Community/Volunteerism
● Background, plenty of opportunities to connect in the community, coffee on the black top, grandparents lunch, family picnic, (to name a few), etc.
● Multiple options for how you can get info from lincoln: phone app, calendar (accessible through app or website), teachers will do classroom communications on a monthly basis, weekly ledger communications, up to date communications and notifications as they come.
● There have been a tremendous amount of enrichments added that are all almost full- thanks to Dasha for coordinating!
Emily Clark, School Principal
● Enrollment
● Numbers are still coming in, first round is closed.
● Projected number was 260 and we’re sitting at 260 today (this number does not include ECE-they are tuition based and follow different licensing and policies due to ratio of teacher to student requirements).
● Fall adjustment happens on 9/14, when final enrollment is captured, that’s why it’s important everyone registers and has attended regularly. DPS does an “October Count” which looks at registration, attendance, and students body of work thus far.
● At this time, there still is fluctuation and enrollment is a moving target at the moment.
● Our numbers are up which is not the case for many central denver schools, more growth is currently occurring in the far northeast due to growth and development in that area
● Max capacity including ECE is ~350
Doug Lazure, PTSA Treasurer
● Budget Presentation and Discussion- Please refer to slides and shared budget for further specific details
● Goal is to fund 3 paras
● Community member question: what happens with the surplus? Answer: It continues in our reserve/cash balance/bank.
Q: Is that sustainable? What are the chances we don’t bring in the same amounts as last year? A: Our projections are pretty conservative with lower goals than we’ve profited from in the past.
● We will continue to monitor and can make budget amendments as needed
● Google form is in planning process to be added to website for ease of reimbursement
● Para fund and GT fund: with the core budget we are not able to hire additional paras. The money we raise allows us to do that.
● ECE paras are funded by the ECE department based on their licensing requirements
● Question re: Enrichments scholarships being at “0”; Dasha added in 2 scholarship spots to each enrichment program and Katy Downieand Emily are in the process of working with families to identify those interested and in need. Traditionally families find it hard to get to the enrichments or stay or make it work in their schedule. Katy Downie reaches out to families.
● Discussion items related to budget:
● Pantry program-giving grocery gift cards to families in need monthly; identified by teachers and staff.
● Food and bike passes provided for those needed at the bike rodeo.
● Look at where we want to allot a few 100 dollars for passes for families in need to events
● Money for stickers for restaurant nights to send home with kids-promote what we are already doing to increase fundraising
● Asking parents to help with snacks to free up money in the pantry budget; parents are so helpful and that would allow that money to be used for other needs
● Anna moved to adopt the budget
● Michelle seconded
● All in favor. Budget passed.
Other Business (PTSA Board, Community Members)
● Volunteer needs/leads are listed currently.
● Back to school night will be a push to sign up and secure volunteers for this year
● Share ideas you’re willing to implement is a good idea, and please share!
● Nikki Garrett: question/concern: day time meeting is restrictive for many working. Response: survey was completed and was split pretty evenly requesting daytime vs night time.
● At this time, there are 4 meetings scheduled for the year, we will also do internal meeting which anyone is welcome to come to and they will be posted on the calendar
● This Fall- PTSA will meet with other schools to get school board information
● Rory-Membership: To be a voting member, each person needs to join the PTSA that wants to vote; you can join via the website or QR code
● Sarah S: give a virtual option for voting on budget
● CSC will take on CMAS information
Closing Reminders
Anna moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:45am. Meeting was adjourned.
Next Board Meeting: DATE, TIME, LOCATION-TBD