Beacon PTA meeting minutes – March 2023

The following minutes were presented and approved at the Beacon PTA April 17, 2023 monthly meeting:

THE BEACON SCHOOL PTA MONTHLY MEETING

March 13, 2023 (6:00 PM) on Zoom

1. WELCOME  

PTA Co-Presidents: Alberta Conteh, Robin Broshi & Gary Anthony Ramsay

PTA Co-VPs: Carole Fennell, Shirley Brady & Kim Youngberg

2. READING OF MEETING NORMS – Alberta Conteh

• Alberta Conteh read the norms for the attendees.

3. PRINCIPAL REPORT – Brady Smith

• Tutoring schedule has been shared now (students also have in email)
• Admissions offers have been sent out (it has been a competitive year)
  • Waitlist varies every year (many factors involved)
  • 113 students have to decline to start looking at waitlist.
• AP test fees have been posted on Beacon’s e-payments store (if students already registered in AP classes do not have to pay late fees) – there are possibilities of fee waivers. Can pay at school store (on Beacon website) or in class to AP teacher.
• 10th grader substitute took a position elsewhere, so using a long-standing sub. Position must remain open for now as per policy and use per diem subs. 
• March 14 – Junior college parent night
• Wednesday is inclusive classroom day
• Friday – Beacon band performances in the cellar
• March 20 – Shubert foundation Broadway special performance (B’DAT’s Mean Girls)
• March 30-April 1 – ‘Alice by Heart’ musical
• April 4/5 – parent-teacher conferences 
• Students should fill water bottles at home or refill in cafeteria
• Vaping in the bathrooms – there are no bathroom monitors (not enough staff & safety agents can’t enter bathrooms) – thus, this is a big challenge. See committee updates for full story. 
• JumpRope – so far effective for attendance. Teachers are increasingly using it for grades. Only 60% of Beacon families have activated the account.
  • Can send an alternate email address to school if you have another 
  • Email Brady and Ms. Greene (egreene@beaconschool.org) for questions

4. MINUTES – Nim Delafield & Monica McSharry 

• February 2023 monthly meeting minutes (Click here.)
• James asked for a motion to approve, Carole seconded, attendees voted, motion PASSED and minutes APPROVED.

5. TREASURERS REPORT & BUDGET REQUESTS 

James O’Neill (Treasurer) & Caterina Bartha (Assistant Treasurer)

• No new funding requests this month. 
• $171K raised so far this year (52%) – last year we were 75% of the way there at this time.
• All are welcome to participate in upcoming budget committee meetings to help shape the 2023-34 PTA budget. 

6. COMMITTEE REPORTS

• Fundraising: Kirsten Marino
  • No update
• Spring Gala – Morghan Richardson
  • Meeting tomorrow of spring auction & gala committee.
  • Venue is still to be confirmed; hosting at Beacon would require a temporary liquor license (working with Brady on DOE application).
  • Auction gala date is confirmed as May 3
  • People can start soliciting auction items now; forms and details are here.
• Community-Building: Cathy Lang Ho& Judy Olsen  
  • April 2 – 3-6:30 177 Henry Street. Neighborhood meet up on LES. Families are welcome. Food/Drink available for purchase
  • March 14 – Bike-bus program webinar
  • More Beacon parent community events (neighborhood and grade-level) are noted here
• Merchandise: Lisa Starr & Toby Williams
  • March 17, April 1, April 28 – upcoming merch sales 
  • Add to school calendar so students know
• Special Education: Justine Keil & Isabel Santiago-Gordon
  • Some students might be at school but not at class
  • Students might not be able to go to tutoring because of scheduling
  • April 18, 5:30pm Special Ed Committee will present a free film screening in Beacon auditorium – The Disruptors
• Hospitality: Jennifer Weisbord
  • No updates
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Melissa Magallanes & Jeffrey Marshall
  • March 20, 6-7:30PM Samilia Ghartey-Sam & Tyler Brewster will present an in-person event in the Beacon auditorium: A Mother’s Right (dance documentary)
  • Multimedia group – student-led event after Spring Break, student/parents/admin – “state of the state” meeting
  • Inclusive classroom committee: created a living document to be part of every classroom this spring (set of behavior expectations)
  • Looking for volunteers – sign up!
• Communications: Kendall Gastelu & Kelli Henry
  • Our Instagram account is now reactivated

7. SLT UPDATE – Robin Broshi 

• No updates
• Meetings noted here

8. OTHER BUSINESS

• Volunteer page on PTA page – sign up here! (including phone-a-thon)

• Give to our annual appeal

• Items and experiences are needed for spring auction; donate here

9. MEETING ADJOURNED – Carole moved that we adjourn, James 2nded. 

• Kendall made a motion to adjourn, Elizabeth seconded, APPROVED.

Future meetings:

• Our Calendar of Events for the 2022-2023 school year is here.
• Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and bookmark our website.

CONTACT: 

beaconpta@beaconschool.org

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