Shirley Brady
May 9, 2022
Beacon PTA meeting minutes – April 2022
The following minutes were approved at the May 9, 2022 general membership meeting:
Beacon PTA General Monthly Meeting (April 2022)
April 11, 2022 (6pm, Zoom)
This meeting was recorded.
More details (including funding request information) are in the meeting agenda.
MINUTES (Approved at our May 9, 2022 meeting)
1. WELCOME
Shirley Brady, Robin Broshi & Nancy Molesworth (meeting chair)
PTA Co-Presidents (Robin Broshi absent due to travel)
2. PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
Brady Smith –
- Silent auction thanks to PTA fundraising committee and co-presidents
- Parent-teacher conferences were last week – numbers being compiled, some were rescheduled due to conflicts and will be rescheduled.
- PupilPath and Skedula may not be used next year due to security breaches
- Out lunch tables and chairs were put outside today, weather dependent
- Summer school planning is underway – make up for NX, 2 sections of pre-calculus to be scheduled as part of calculus for all – not yet decided if class will be in person or online, may be a choice
- HVAC issues due to taxi stand fumes being addressed
- COVID-19: slight uptick in cases, do not come to school with symptoms
- Ms. Elliott’s services – several teachers attended services last week
- Renaming of dance studio in honor of Ms. Elliott is moving forward
- Senior bowling trip is rescheduled for April 29th
- Beacon cultural week is week of May 16th with cultural show on May 19th
- DEI movie is scheduled for May 12th
- Teacher requests for books and supplies are being requested
- Juneteeth is a holiday, events will honor the day.
- June is pride month, celebrations to be planned
- Prom – June 20th at Tavern on the Green
- Graduation – June 23rd at Brooklyn Cyclones stadium
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Anju Gupta, Recording Secretary
- March 2022 monthly meeting minutes (click here) – Nancy Molesworth makes motion to approve, Gary Ramsey 2nds – March minutes approved
4. TREASURERS’ REPORT
Spencer Green & Katherine Bruck
- Financial report & funding requests (see below)
- Financial update – Spencer presents, raised $220K so far and are $65K short so far from the intended goal. Expenses so far are expected to be $320K this year without new funding requests. This year is unusual in terms of deficit. Amount we raise each year is going down every year. If all items approved would have spent $100K from reserves this year.
- New funding requests $37,568.00 total (see below for details – each request will be presented and then put to a vote by current Beacon parents and teachers)
- We have 13 requests: 6 by teachers for classroom support; 5 supporting after-school clubs; 2 school-wide events.
- Spencer goes through individual requests – some of which are because the school budget is closed by DOE due to timing.
- Question by parent as to why teachers don’t ask parents of class directly to fund small requests. Move away from individual requests to classes and teachers. Gary addresses that we are as part of a power shift Beacon is moving away from that model.
- Collaborative minds funding request – Karen Stonley makes a suggestion to use IMPACT ED
- Rock climbing request – $2070 to benefit 10 kids, appears that is a request for the whole event
- Food truck request $6K – May 20th – culminates cultural appreciation week with cultural food items, students will purchase food. Working with each vendor to get the lowest cost item. Most vendors require a fee to have food trucks available. Each food truck is $1k – $2K, some are a minimum and working with different vendors. Have confirmed 3 different trucks so far. Request for parents or teachers who have connections to food trucks. Most items are between $8-$12. Discussions regarding if to use $ so students don’t have to pay for the food. Ideas about having local restaurants come to the street – Nancy says it may be difficult to get restaurants to offer food for sale.
- Beacon dance – $8099 – individual requests are listed but as per Nancy has to be bundled. Question as to why requests can’t be parceled out. Issue raised as for $750 for 30 t-shirts, customized and multi colored in memory of Ms. Elliott, can ask if can get a cheaper price for the t-shirts.
- HBCU college night – $15K request – Deborah Heller presents – symposium for HBCU colleges, college fair is just 1 part of the event, in contract with a company “HBCU Nights” who will put on a huge event for 500 kids. Date is in flux – a day with no school may not be ideal. Question if I can have this event in the fall. 3-4 hours total – dancing, bands, performances, panel of alumni. Vendors will be invited to sell items as well. Will invite other schools as well for the college fair. Student body has been craving this type of event and is important for the current seniors. As per Deb Heller – is not part of HBCU’s college admission reps job to come to high schools. Request to have a similar event for IEP kids.
- Poll tested to rename Dance studio in honor of Ms. Elliott – vote has passed unanimously.
Funding votes taken by polling function on zoom:
- 9th grade history (academic) – passed
- Sociology (academic) – passed
- Asian American literature (academic) – passed
- Outdoor track team (sports) – passed
- Marine biology class (academic) – passed
- Beacon Collaborative Minds (club) – passed
- Teensy magazine (club) – passed
- Girls Ultimate Frisbee (club) – passed
- Math department: AP Calculus calculators (academic) – passed
- Beacon Climbing (club) – did not pass
- Food trucks – Beacon cultural appreciation week (school-wide event) – passed
- Beacon Dance (class/club) – passed
- HBCU event (school-wide event) – passed
5. COMMITTEE REPORTS
- Auction: Carla Miller, Kim Youngberg
- Silent auction in full swing – goes through April 14th, so far have raised $9K, please share with social network.
- New item just added- Brooklyn Nets has donated a suite for Nets vs. Celtics for next season.
- Communications: Justine Keil
- Community-Building: Karen Stonely, Natasha Zaretsky
- April 25th – IEP family meeting follow-up.
- April 26th – Pig Beach parent gathering in Brooklyn for all parents
- 9th/10th grade potluck event – May 19th and 11th/12th grade May 24th (tentative dates), will be in the school. Scope of the event is TBD
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Gary Anthony Ramsay, Windell Williams
- Last committee meeting was on April 5th, next one on May 4th – Ms. Crews provided update regarding hall and attendance monitoring, issues re translation and language discussed at meeting
- DEI movie event tickets are available on Eventbrite since it is an in person, in school event.
- DEI budget committee meeting is working on a form to smooth out the request process which will be viewed through a DEI lens.
- Monthly book club is tomorrow.
- Fundraising: Karen Jolicoeur, Alison Overholser – comedy fundraiser will be on April 27th at Stand up NY. Raffle will be conducted soon.
- Hospitality: Jennifer Weisbord, Robin Krugman – Lunch was provided to teachers before PT conferences. Will do another lunch before the end of the year.
- Merchandise: Diana Mahiques, Julie Harding – Merchandise was sold every month except for April. Next merch sale is Friday May 13th.
6. SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAM REPORT
- Robin Broshi, Windell Williams, Carole Fennell – working on CEP goals
7. OTHER BUSINESS
- Nominating Committee: Robin B. & Shirley – will start out soon for nominations for next year, 9th & 10th grade parents encouraged to join.
- Equitable Funding Committee: Windell, Gary & Shirley
- PTA bylaws review – Robin B.- ongoing process, making good progress
- Parent handbook – Shirley (with Susi Nichol, Arlene Hellerman & Kathleen Wolf) – in the works, will hopefully be ready by the end of the year
- Upcoming events:
- April 12: DEI book club (6pm, Zoom)
- April 12: SLT meeting (5pm, Zoom)
- April 15-22: Spring Break (classes resume 4/22)
- More upcoming events: click here.
8. NEW BUSINESS
- Principal Brady motion to rename Beacon’s dance studio after Kim Elliott – needed to go to a PTA vote [passed before funding requests]
- Any other new business – Brady discussed formation of Alumni Association.
9. MEETING ADJOURNED (7:55pm)
April 2022 funding requests (presented for a parent vote; all approved except for Beacon Climbing Club):
| Item # | Amount | Type | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $87.94 | Class | 9th Grade History class supplies |
| 2 | $262.00 | Class | Sociology Class field trip |
| 3 | $491.05 | Class | Asian American Literature books |
| 4 | $500.00 | Sports | Outdoor Track Team |
| 5 | $600.00 | Class | Marine Biology Class field trip |
| 6 | $1,000.00 | Club | Beacon Collaborative Minds |
| 7 | $1,000.00 | Club | Teensy magazine |
| 8 | $1,110.00 | Club | Girls Ultimate Frisbee |
| 9 | $1,249.00 | Class | AP Calculus |
| 10 | $2,070.00 | Club | Climbing Club |
| 11 | $6,000.00 | School | Food Trucks-Cultural Week |
| 12 | $8,099.00 | Class | Beacon Dance (also benefits club) |
| 13 | $15,100.00 | School | HBCU event |
| Total | $37,568.00 |
