Beacon PTA Meeting Minutes – May 2022
These minutes were approved at the PTA’s June 21, 2022 monthly general membership meeting:
Beacon PTA Monthly Meeting
May 9, 2022 (6pm, Zoom)
Zoom link: Click here.
This meeting was recorded.
MINUTES (Approved at June 21, 2022 meeting)
1. WELCOME
Nancy Molesworth, Robin Broshi, Shirley Brady
PTA Co-Presidents
2. PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
Brady Smith updates:
- Student preference forms for classes are open. Student voice is important in course selection.
- Summer school will be offered this summer, students will get invitations as soon as grades are in. July 5-August 12
- Admissions – cap of 360 for incoming 9th graders
- Family and faculty handbooks almost finalized
- Laptops for all goal will be met soon
- 8 interactive whiteboards being installed soon – grant for more next year
- Upcoming events: DEI film screening (5/12), 9th grade Frames bowling trip (Friday), HBCU college event (6/13)
- NYC budget cuts likely for DOE budget next year, base budget will likely be received in late May.
- IEP survey – response rate is low, which was regarding family interest in IEP’s
- PBA week – Week of June 13th, not for 9th graders as focus is on graduation-level PBA’s; last instructional date will be June 10th. Last official day is June 27th per DOE – not an essential day.
- Seniors w/IEP’s – transition meetings to be set up, Brady will get that information.
- Pre-calculus – will be a credit course over the summer. Waiting to hear from DOE if it can have some sort of remote or hybrid option or has to be in person.
- NX – must be completed by June 21st for fall term. NX – spring term – have until 1/2023 to complete. (NC = no credit; NX = work incomplete)
- Community service extensions may be granted on a case by case basis as Beacon values community service. There has not been a summer plan in the past for CS. Honors hours deadline will be announced.
- National Honor Society – never been at Beacon, debates as to the messages that are being sent. Emphasizes grades and competition, which some staff see as a downside.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Anju Gupta, Recording Secretary
- Apr. 2022 monthly meeting minutes (click here) – Nancy makes motion to approve minutes, Diana seconds. Minutes approved.
4. TREASURERS’ REPORT
Spencer Green & Katherine Bruck
- Financial report & update
- Raised $278K so far, spent $243K so far – bills will come in at the end of the year.
- New funding requests (see below)
- Sports Banquet (June 14) – maximum amount requested is $11,350, expecting 500-800 people
- Math Dept. scientific calculators – $1260 – will fund about 20 calculators to get through AP’s and balance will be purchased by the school in the fall
- Climbing Club – $870 – climbing outing
- PTA Exec Board gathering – $500
- Art show opening on June 10th – $1000 – for food etc
- Badminton Club – half of uniform costs
- PTA hospitality requesting $300 – supplies for grade gatherings – $150 for each gathering on May 24 and 31st.
- Track team additional expenses $285
- VOTE: Diana Mahiques motion to approve funding requests; Nancy Molesworth seconded. All funding requests approved.
- End-of-year expenses (known & anticipated)
- 2022-23 budget process
5. COMMITTEE REPORTS
- Fundraising Co-VPs: Karen Jolicoeur, Alison Overholser
- Comedy event – 74 tickets sold, $2,800.00 raised.
- MacBook raffle will be held in June
- Yankees game in September – fundraiser for the school
- Auction Co-VPs: Carla Miller, Kim Youngberg
- Approx $17K raised. Last-chance auction will be held.
- Community-Building Co-VPs: Karen Stonely, Natasha Zaretsky
- Parent potlucks in school coming up:
- 11th/12th grade – May 24st
- 9th/10th grade – May 31st
- College Office Coffee Talk on May 16th will focus on IEP families
- Parent potlucks in school coming up:
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Co-VPs: Gary Ramsay, Windell Williams
- HBCU event on 6/13 – panel with alumni, black fraternal organizations will be represented, college fair, STEP show, life after college event
- DEI film event on 5/12 for Beacon community. Tickets are free but need to register. African drummers & Twelfth Night ensemble will perform; panel following film. Students may participate.
- May is AAPI heritage month – Workshop series – aims to empower Asian American families to gain equitable access to public education.
- Yu&Me Asian bookstore – English teacher Mr. Singh wants to coordinate an event around a visit to the bookstore (not enough time, may revisit; contributed to summer reading list instead).
- No other Beacon events for AAPI Heritage Month are planned.
- DEI Co-VPs ask Asian parents to step up with the DEI committee to support more Asian-centered DEI events.
- Hospitality Co-VPs: Jennifer Weisbord, Robin Krugman
- Soliciting volunteers for June 14 sports award banquet (click here) and helping coordinate food/catering for Coach Simmons.
- Handing gift cards for staff at the end of the year.
- Merchandise Co-VPs: Diana Mahiques, Julie Harding
- This Friday, May 13th: last merch in school sale, $5 off for seniors
- Merch will be available at upcoming parent potluck events.
- Communications VP: Justine Keil (no report)
6. SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAM REPORT
- Robin Broshi, Windell Williams, Carole Fennell
- Robin was not at last SLT meeting,
- Next SLT meeting is this week: May 11.
- Discussed later start times of school and express bus issue – surveys were sent out and will be re-sent.
7. OTHER BUSINESS:
- BYLAW REVIEW
- Robin Broshi will present proposed changes to our bylaws at our June PTA monthly meeting following ongoing review by EB. What’s new:
- VP for Special education – new position being created.
- 2 assistant treasurers instead of 1
- Option for online meetings as permanent feature going forward (as per Chancellor’s regs)
- Robin Broshi will present proposed changes to our bylaws at our June PTA monthly meeting following ongoing review by EB. What’s new:
- JUNE ELECTIONS
- Candidates are needed & welcome for 2022/23 PTA and SLT! More info is here.
- Desperately need volunteers for next year’s PTA EB. Please step up as a strong PTA is vital to Beacon’s success.
- Nominations close June 10th. Election is on 6/21.
8. NEW BUSINESS
• June PTA meeting: New date is June 21, 2022 at 5:30pm; registration is required to receive the Zoom link. This meeting will include votes on PTA bylaw changes, new funding requests and the proposed 2022/23 PTA budget; and the 2022/23 PTA/SLT elections.
• Parent volunteers are needed for the June 14th Beacon Athletic Awards & Banquet – click here to sign up.
9. MEETING ADJOURNED
Appendix: May 2022 funding requests
| Request # | Amount | Item |
| 1 | $11,350.00 | Athletic Awards & Banquet |
| 2 | $1,260.00 | Math Dept. scientific calculators |
| 3 | $870.00 | Climbing Club |
| 4 | $500.00 | Exec Board gathering |
| 5 | $1,000.00 | Beacon Art Show |
| 5 | $285.00 | Track team |
| 7 | $215.00 | Badminton Club |
| Sub-total | $15,450.00 |
Request details:
Request 1: Athletic Awards & Banquet
Submitted by: Ndabaningi Simmons, Beacon Athletics Director
Activity: Beacon 2022 Athletic Awards & Banquet
Amount requested for Spring ‘22: $3,000.00 (recognitions) + $8,350.00 (food) = $11,350.00 (total request)
How many students will participate or benefit? All Beacon athletes (about 550-600 students) and there will be approx. 250 adults: coaches, parents, scorekeepers and managers who are invited to attend so estimates based on 850 guests.
Details: For Beacon’s 2022 Sports Banquet (June 14, 4:30-7:30pm in the Beacon auditorium and cafeteria), we are requesting the following PTA funds based on 850 guests:
A. Athlete recognitions: $3,000.00 [Update: $3,000-$4,000]
Reference:
Trophies/Sports Pins: https://www.crownawards.com/shopping-cart
Varsity Letters: https://www.neffco.com/index/page/shopping_cart
B. Banquet food (based on 850 guests): $8,342.00
| Cold sandwiches | $6,200.00 |
| Cheese platters | $500.00 |
| Fruit platters | $400.00 |
| Cupcakes (600) | $1,200.00 |
| Candy (blue & white M&Ms or lollipops) | $42.00 ($6.99 for bag of 75 b&w dum dums) |
| Estimate total | $8,342.00 |
Total Budget (A+B): $11,342.00 (rounded up to $11,350.00)
_____________________________________________________________
Request 2: Math Dept. request
Submitted by: Amy Kucker
Activity: Math Department – scientific calculators for math students
Amount requested for Spring ‘22: $1,260.00 (7 x $180/set)
How many students will participate or benefit? 330
Which other clubs/activities, if any, will share these resources? Math Club, Homework club
Details:
• 7 sets of 3 TI Scientific Calculators (each set costs $179.99) – across the math department
• This request is submitted on behalf of the Beacon Math Dept.
• Rationale: Having matching sets of scientific calculators available in the classroom will help students familiarize themselves with the technology so that they may use it for all assessments and classwork.
• This will enable all students to have equity so that all students have access to same technology. This will improve their experience in all math courses (algebra, geometry, algebra 2, pre-calculus and calculus) and will provide consistency and comfortability by using the same technology across the courses and classrooms. This also will serve as a back-up supply for testing.
Request 3: Climbing Club
Submitted by: Luke Kushner, Climbing Club co-president
Activity: Beacon Climbing Club
Amount requested for Spring ‘22: $870.00
How many students will participate or benefit? 10
Details: The Beacon Climbing Club has been planning an outdoor climbing trip for several months now. We are looking forward to providing our members with the opportunity to learn outdoor climbing skills and basic principles of nature preservation (LNT), all under the supervision of American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) certified guides. We understand that last month, our funding request came under scrutiny for its high cost. With that in mind, we have significantly reduced our request, cutting our requested funding by over 50%. We have also accounted for anticipated proceeds from our upcoming bake sale.
Request 4: Year-end PTA Exec Board gathering
Submitted by: Anju Gupta, PTA Secretary
Activity: PTA Executive Board end of year gathering (food & beverage costs)
Amount requested for Spring ‘22: $500.00
How many students will participate or benefit? N/A – this is for the PTA Executive Board
Which other clubs/activities, if any, will share these resources? N/A
Request 5: Beacon Art Show
Submitted by: Teachers Bridget Malloy (art) & Keith Miller (photography)
Activity: End-of-year Beacon Art Show
Amount requested: $1,000.00
Details: Keith Miller and Bridget Malloy are requesting $1,000 from the PTA for the Annual Art Show to provide refreshments, pizza and sandwiches for the expected 500 attendees (students and parents) at the June 10th opening reception. This will be the first since COVID-19 halted all indoor activities.
Request 6: Track
Submitted by: Afsaan Saleem, Teacher & Coach
Activity: Track (PSAL)
Amount requested for Spring ‘22: $285.00
Details: The PTA had approved $500 so the track team could attend the Penn track meets. The bills came to $785 so requesting an additional $285.
Request 7: Badminton
Submitted by: Cecilia Rodriguez, Teacher & Club Advisor
Activity: Badminton (new club)
Amount requested for Spring ‘22: $215.00
Details: This is 50% of the new team uniform cost.
- 5/10/22 DEI Book Club (6pm, Zoom)
- 5/11/22 AP Spanish exam (in school)
- 5/11/22 School Leadership Team meeting (5pm, Zoom)
- 5/12/22 AP Physics exam (in school)
- 5/12/22 DEI Film Screening & Panel: “A White Man Walks Into a Barbershop” (6pm, Beacon Auditorium – reserve your seat!)
- 5/13/22 Beach Merch Sale (all lunch bands, in school)
- 5/16-20 Beacon Cultural Appreciation Week
- 5/16/22 Beacon College Office Coffee Talk: Parents of Students with IEPs (6pm, Zoom)
- 5/19/22 9th & 10th grade parents potluck and gathering (6-8pm, in school)
- 5/19/22 AP Biology exam (in school)
- 5/20/22 AP Calculus exam (in school)
- 5/24/22 10th & 11th grade parents potluck and gathering (6-8pm, in school)
- 5/26/22 Beacon College Office: College Admissions Panel (6pm, Zoom)
- 5/30/22 Memorial Day (no school)
- 6/1/22 Beacon Dance Company performance
- 6/3/22 Senior Class Brunch (morning)
- 6/6/22 PTA Executive Board meeting (6pm, Zoom)
- 6/7/22 DEI Committee meeting (6pm, Zoom)
- 6/8/22 School Leadership Team meeting (5pm, Zoom)
- 6/8/22 Theatre Dept. Awards Night & Choir Performance (6-8pm)
- 6/9/22 Chancellor’s Day (no school)
- 6/10/22 Beacon Art Show & Film Festival (6-8pm)
- 6/10/22 Deadline for PTA election nominations (11:59pm)
- 6/13-17 PBA Week
- 6/14/22 Beacon Sports Awards & Banquet (4:30-8pm)
- 6/15-17 Beacon Dance: Destiny Show
- 6/20/22 Juneteenth (no school); Senior Prom (Tavern on the Green)
- 6/20/22 PTA Monthly meeting (5:30pm, Zoom) NEW DATE/TIME
- 6/23/22 Class of 2022 Graduation ceremony
- 6/28/22 Last day of classes (full day) before summer break
- 7/5/22 Summer school begins
2021-22 Beacon PTA Executive Board members:
Co-Presidents: Shirley Brady, Robin Brosh, Nancy Molesworth
Secretary: Anju Gupta
Treasurer: Spencer Green
Assistant Treasurer: Katherine Bruck
VPs: Carole Fennell, Robin Krugman, Kim Youngberg
VPs, Fundraising: Karen Jolicoeur, Alison Overholser
VP, Communications: Justine Keil
VPs, Community Building: Karen Stonely, Natasha Zaretsky
VPs, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Gary Ramsay, Windell Williams
VP, Hospitality: Jennifer Weisbord
VPs, Merchandise: Diana Mahiques, Julie Harding
Members at Large: Marisol Cruz, Tali Mermelstein, Carla Miller
Contact us at beaconpta@beaconschool.org.
