PTA General Meeting

October 9, 2007

Respectfully Submitted

Attendance: Sarah Achenbach, Tracie Bartlett, Heather Benassi, John Blake, Linda Blake, Alyson Bonavoglia, Francesca Brown, Landie Callanan, Erin Chrvala, Krista Collier, Lindsay Conboy, Sonia Cortassa, Susan Deise, Susanna DeRocco, Susan Drake, Keli Emmons, Anne Ertel, Jessica Fields, Jill Fisher, Leslie Foretich, Beth Foster, Yixun Geng, Barb Klees Glickman, Aimee Grable, Jennifer Helfrich, Joan Hershey, Andrea Hodge, Lea Ann Howard, Eithne Keelaghan, Carol Krlsanda, Karen Kruger, Sue Langford, Susan Millard, Jill Molter, Nicole Nesbitt, Rebecca Orendorff, Sue Parts, Lisa Pyle, Rebecca Romeo, Michele Rowland, Trisha Schwab, Matt Simmons, Susan Wittman.

Following the PTA Health and Safety Committee’s program, “Keeping Our Families Safe”, as presented by Officer Doucett of the Baltimore County Police Department, Jennifer Helfrich called the meeting to order at 7:42 pm. The PTA officers were introduced.

President’s Report: Jennifer stated that the PTA Council of Baltimore County’s Fall Reception and Workshops event is on Thursday October 25th from 6:00–9:30 pm. at New Town High School in Owings Mills. This is a leadership training opportunity where officers and committee chairs can select workshops they would like to attend. This year’s Maryland State PTA Fall Convention is Friday November 16th and Saturday November 17th at the Sheraton Hotel in Towson. Jennifer reminded everyone that Standing Committee Chairmen are to send their reports to the Vice President of Chairmen (Lisa Pyle), while Special Committees are to send their reports to the Vice President of Programs (Aimee Grable). Chairmen should check the PTA box in the office regularly for their committee’s mail.

Committee Plans of Work

Reflections: Landie Callanan proposed a budget of $300. This year’s theme is “I Can Make A Difference By…” RFES can submit up to four entries at each age division (grades K-2, and grades 3-5), in each of the six arts areas. Posters, flyers, and permission slips will be sent home October 22nd. A question and answer session for parents and students will be scheduled for late October. Deadline for entries is December 2, 2007. Judging occurs at the school, county, state, and national level. Landie submitted a written motion that the RFES PTA accept the Plan of Work for the Reflections Committee for 2007-2008. Jennifer called for a vote and the motion was approved as submitted.

Generations Day: Aimee Grable submitted a Plan of Work with a budget of $300 on behalf of the Generations Day Committee. Aimee made a motion to approve the plan of work. No second was required since the motion came from committee. Jennifer called for a vote and the motion was approved.

Principal’s Report: Mrs. Deise reminded everyone that Generations Day is Thursday October 18th. She informed us that Ms. Drapalski (library/media specialist) has the Destiny Program up and running, and the students are being oriented to it now. The Destiny Program allows 24/7 access to our library’s catalog. Students can look for books in the RFES library from their classrooms and from their homes. Visit http://destiny.bcps.org to take a look. The Success Net math book website is now available at www.pearsonsuccessnet.com. Mrs. Deise said that in another few months we will be able to get assessment results online at Assess Track, as well as articulated modules (expectations). Some lunchroom controls are being implemented such as a stoplight to indicate noise level, in an effort to create a quieter environment. Mrs. Deise said that last year’s Black Saga teams spoke to students about getting involved in this year’s competition. Team Coordinators are Mrs. Reighart and Mrs. Zaremba, with additional support from Ms. Ceanfaglione and Mrs. Brown.

Assistant Principal’s Report: Ms. Brown explained a new lunchroom reward system where students who are quiet and well behaved receive paper horseshoes, which are tallied at the end of the week. At the end of the month, the winning class will receive a special treat.

Treasurer’s Report: Lea Ann Howard distributed the Treasurer’s Report for the month of October. She said that the PTA’s Closing Balance as of October 9th, 2007 is $13,909.96.

Vice President of Volunteer’s Report: Lindsay Conboy stated that there are now enough volunteers for Generations Day. Volunteers are still needed for The Fall Book Fair (Oct. 25th –Nov. 2nd), the Sally Foster Pick Up, the Holiday Greens Sale, and the Workroom Organization project. Lindsay will be out for surgery on her foot October 12th. Her recovery will require one to three weeks. Lindsay made a request that during the first week after her surgery, anyone with volunteer emergencies contact Jennifer Helfrich. Sarah Achenbach thanked Lindsay for the thorough and timely volunteer lists that she has provided our committees.

Committee Reports

Membership: Susan Drake reported that we currently have 623 memberships recorded, with a few still coming in. Our goal is to have 100% participation, which equals one member for each student based on our September 30th enrollment (628 students). If we achieve this goal we receive a break on our PTA Insurance costs. Membership cards will be distributed once the last batch is received from the Maryland PTA. If anyone needs his or her card right away, please contact Susan Drake.

Buzz Book: Lindsay Conboy reported on behalf of Laura Cole that the Buzz Book went to the printer today. There were 432 orders taken. Lindsay stressed that next year the deadline for entries must remain firm in order to have a more timely publication.

Reflections: Landie Callanan pointed out the fact that the school’s copy machines are taking a beating with our increased population. She reminded committee chairs that they should make copies at Office Depot, where the PTA receives a huge discount and the school gets a 5% kickback if you let them know the copies are for RFES. You must present an Office Depot PTA Discount card, which you can borrow from Jennifer. If you have a card from last year it is still valid.

Health and Safety: Sarah Achenbach said that this year’s Kids For Health Club would lead the Silver Sneakers Walking club, which will meet once every other week during lunch recess for approximately five weeks. A flyer with details will be coming home soon. Parent volunteers (who have completed the Volunteer Training Program) are needed those days from about 12:15-12:40. The committee is looking for donations of 25 pedometers, water bottles or other walking paraphernalia. The committee will be sending home a monthly flyer about timely health topics called “Ask An Expert” which will feature information from RFES parents who are health professionals. The Healthy Kids Expo will be Friday March 14th. The committee met with Mrs. Deise to formulate ideas for a voluntary fifth grade lunchtime club, which might compliment Ms. Rowland’s “Character Counts” program. The committee will present an amendment to their Plan of Work, which will detail the fifth grade club, at the next meeting.

Generations Day: Michele Rowland and Tricia Schwab said that 391 guests are expected to attend Generations Day on Thursday October 18th. Session One will be for kindergarten, first and fourth grades, while Session Two will be for second, third, and fifth grades. Guests will enter the building by the cafeteria. Arrangements have been made so that our visiting senior citizens will have seating available and physical education classes involved will be held indoors. Due to the large numbers involved, it is requested that parents not attend. Parents will have an opportunity to spend time in their child’s classroom during American Education Week, November 12th –16th.

Capacity Study: Alyson Bonavoglia reviewed the Board of Education’s long-term solution to our overcrowded schools, which is to build a state of the art school in Mays Chapel for special education students who will be relocated from the Ridge Ruxton School on Charles St. The Ridge Ruxton School would then be reopened as a regular elementary school. The Board of Education already owns the 20+-acre property. At the last Board of Education meeting, many elderly Mays Chapel residents spoke against the plan, which would affect a portion of the green space and it’s walking trails. The committee’s understanding is that the school would need only a few acres of land, leaving much of the green space intact. Our school community and the committee have a very positive working relationship with the Board of Education and the Department of Planning, Support, and Operations. Our local elected officials are supportive of the plan. In order to show the Board of Education that we need this plan to remain a priority on their long list of projects, the committee has issued a Call To Action (flyer will be sent home with students shortly) requesting that large numbers of peaceful RFES parents (sporting our school colors) attend the next Board of Education meeting, Tuesday October 23rd at 7:30 in room 114 of the ESS Building on the Greenwood campus on Charles Street. You do not need to speak at the meeting unless you wish to enter your name in a drawing for a chance to be one of the three allowed to speak briefly at the end of the meeting. Allyson and Mrs. Deise are working with Mr. Don Dent, the Executive Director of the Department of Planning, Support, and Operations to set up a meeting where Mr. Dent will make a presentation to the parents of RFES. At this meeting it will be important for parents to ask about the short-term solutions envisioned for our overcrowded school. A flyer will be coming home regarding the Tuesday November 13th meeting.

New Business

Sue Langford brought up for discussion the idea of trying to reduce the amount of paper consumed at school. She mentioned the possibilities from double-sided copies, to half sheets of paper, to the idea of email for newsletters. Mrs. Deise pointed out the fact that our diverse community prevents us from assuming that every home has access to a computer or email (which can be an ineffective method of delivery). Due to time constraints, it was suggested that the idea be brought up for discussion at the next meeting. Parties that should be involved in brainstorming include a teacher representative (to prevent causing the teachers any undue burden), a Parks and Recreation representative (our students carry many of their flyers home), and a PTA representative (to address our separate layer of paper communication).

The meeting was adjourned at 8:47m.

Announcements: Tues. Oct. 23rd Bd.of Education Mtg.-overcrowding ESS Bldg. Rm. 114, 7:30 pm.

Thurs. Oct. 25th PTA Fall Reception/Workshops 6:00-9:30 pm. New Town HS

. Tues. Nov. 13th Bd. Of Ed. Strategic Planning Office presentation to RFES 7:00 pm.