BEACON PTA MEETING MINUTES – DECEMBER 2022
The following minutes were presented and approved at the January 2023 Beacon PTA monthly general membership meeting:
BEACON PTA MONTHLY GENERAL MEETING – MINUTES
December 12, 2022 (6PM, Zoom)
Click here to see a recording of this meeting.
AGENDA (click here)
1. WELCOME – Welcomes from Alberta Conteh (PTA Co-President) who reads PTA meeting norms and expectations & introduces co-chairs and Principal Brady
2. PRINCIPAL’S REPORT – Brady Smith
· December 16, 2022 Winterfest concert – still looking for parent volunteers
· December 20-22 Dance Concert – coming up in the Kim Elliott Dance Theater
· E-payments through the Beacon website is moving forward
· There are still 2 paraprofessional vacancies that are being filled. Two people (bilingual Spanish-English & bilingual Mandarin-English) are in the pipeline getting certifications.
· SAT/PSATs at school will take place on March 1, 2023 (no make-up dates possible). If you can’t make this date, Beacon will work with you to schedule in another school. (9th/12th graders will not have class that day)
· Jan 24-27, 2023 PBAs. (note – Jan. 23 is a reg day). Jan 24 is ELA Regents day. Students will be notified when they should come in on Jan 25-27 for PBAs.
· Many students still need to take the DOE’s Fitnessgram (if they have the PE waiver).
o They will need to come in during SGI.
o If student has medical exemption, they don’t need to take Fitnessgram
· Monday Dec, 21: Staff holiday cook-off & PTA-sponsored end-of-year Holiday staff party
· Jan 30, 2023 – no school (Chancellor’s Day)
· We may be close to having a new grade reporting system to replace PupilPath; stay tuned
· Community Service – some students still struggling to get a position – there is still time and supports to get a spot. Students should see Mr. Jacobs/their advisor if they’re struggling to find a CS placement.
· Tutoring schedule now posted – there are ~50 opportunities posted (in school near elevators). Call Beacon’s IT helpdesk for password issues
· School safety town hall – looking at dates in the spring. Agenda items will be collected from community.
3. PARENT COORDINATOR’S REPORT – Erdene Greene – n/a
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES –
November 2022 monthly meeting minutes were presented for approval (click here) (Note: published.)
Judy Olsen made move to approve. Marcy Keltai seconded motion. Approved.
5. TREASURERS’ REPORT – James O’Neill & Caterina Barth
· New funding requests:
o General requests – new clubs (~$10,000)
o Senior requests – (~$30000) to cover senior dues (to support ~16% seniors) + support costs of senior trip (e.g., note busses are a major expense) – the senior trip is to Dorsey Park (see link).
§ >>Note: senior parents are already prepared to fundraise for ~$20,000 of this $30,000 – so this ‘ask’ is actually closer to ~$10,000)
§ Note – the PTA has a large reserve that is meant for these purposes
o Vote on – general requests for new club
§ Motion made by Shannon Lorraine, seconded by Morgan Richardson. Motion is passed.
o Vote on – senior costs
§ Motion made by Shannon Lorraine, seconded by Judy Olsen. Motion is passed
6. COMMITTEE REPORTS
· Fundraising (Rosemary Wagner & Kirsten Marino)
o Several emails sent out re: Annual appeal. We are behind on fundraising. ~$45,000 raised so far.
o Need volunteers to help with email blasts, events, etc.
o Also need volunteers for spaces, weekend homes, etc for auction.
o Morgan Richardson offered to help out with Auction/Gala committee.
§ Need volunteers to with organization/location/solicitation from businesses (even if you don’t want to sign on for the committee but you have some ideas, please let them know).
o MacBook Air raffle (raised $5,000) drawing: Lauren Merkin won!
· Special Education (Isabel Santiago-Gordon & Kristen Keil)
o 2nd committee meeting on Tuesday Dec 12 at 6PM (Zoom will be sent out via PTA)
§ Google Classroom for Special Education families
§ How parents can best reach out with concerns
§ Tutoring program
§ Staff shifts for supporting students
§ Developing subcommittees to include program events/workshops/newsletter/college resources.
· Diversity Equity & Inclusion (Jeff Marshall & Alisa McGowan) – no report; more to come after the holidays
· Community Building/Relations (Cathy Lang Ho & Judy Olsen)
o In Fall, neighborhood reps successfully held local meet-up events.
o Also, parent grade reps for all four years held in-school potlucks.
o 11th grade potluck, for example, featured Beacon College Office reps. If you missed this, reach out to PTA for info.
o This coming Wed Dec 14 (7-9PM), a Beacon parent will host a book discussion (‘The Teenage Brain’ by Jensen) in Long Island City
o Path to Calculus will be held in summer; more info is forthcoming.
· Communications (Kendall Gastelu & Kelli Henry)
o Please see the newsletter for calls for volunteers
· Merchandising (Lisa Starr & Toby Williams)
o In-school merch sales are going well
o Also trying to look at establishing a variety of price points for merch
o Online Beacon merch store is being relaunched
o Looking at Jan 19th for next in-school merch sale
· Hospitality (Jennifer Weisbord)
o Teacher appreciation events are planned for every month
§ This month, hot chocolate bar
§ Dec 21, PTA is hosting the Beacon staff holiday party at McQuaids.
7. SLT UPDATE
· SLT parent rep David Gould highlighted that 2 meetings held in November (had to submit comprehensive education plan by end of month – was successful in submitting)
10. NEW BUSINESS – none
11. ADJOURNMENT – Gary Ramsay makes motion to adjourn; Carole Fennell seconded.
Questions? Please contact beaconpta@beaconschool.org
