Beacon PTA meeting minutes – November 2022
BEACON PTA GENERAL MEETING
November 14, 2022 (6-7 PM)
MINUTES (APPROVED)
1. WELCOME – Alberta Conteh, Robin Broshi & Gary Anthony Ramsay
(PTA Co-Presidents)
PTA Co-VPs: Carole Fennell, Shirley Brady & Kim Youngberg
2. READING OF MEETING NORMS – Alberta Conteh
Alberta reminded attendees of our meeting norms to remind everyone that this is a respectful, equitable, and inclusive space.
3. PARENT COORDINATOR UPDATE – Erdene Greene
Erdene sent information to remind Beacon parents and guardians to update their email information and described how to make updates so that families get the relevant emails. Erdene stressed that this is very important.
4. PRINCIPAL REPORT – Brady Smith
Brady and team are working hard to ensure seniors have accurate reports on the MyStudent system, especially those applying for early action & early admission. Brady updated us on team sports, debate team, B’DAT play and encouraged everyone to join the upcoming PTA potlucks.
CIEE, a vendor that provides travel experiences (90 Beacon students participated last summer), now considers Beacon a Global Navigator school. If we can raise $50K, they will provide funding that could support up to 70 students so that any student that wants to participate is able to.
We do not have a replacement for PupilPath yet, but Brady hears it’s close and there have been improvements. Now we are using Google Classroom.
Brady noted that the lockdown from a week ago was an error—a reported safety concern that did not turn out to be a concern once it was investigated. Safety first always. There will be 2 more soft lockdown drills this year, with efforts to make them as least triggering as possible will be taken.
5. MINUTES – Nim Delafield & Monica McSharry
- Oct. 2022 general monthly meeting minutes presented for approval (click here to view)
- Alberta Conteh made a motion to approve the October minutes, it was seconded, and the minutes were approved.
6. 2022/23 BUDGET PROPOSALS – James O’Neill (Treasurer), Caterina Bartha (Assistant Treasurer)
James shared that we have one funding request this month. It’s from the Student Government asking to increase the amount to the same as years past (from $500 to $1000). No questions were asked.
James shared the budget vs actual and noted that it is still early in the year with regard to expenses or revenue.
James will share how this year’s budget compares to last year. He explained the School Expense line item includes: Academic Support (largest portion), Bridge Program, DEI, Mental Health programs, School Planners, Sr Grad Committee, Sports Banquet, Staff appreciation
7. BUDGET VOTE –
James O’Neill made a motion to approve, Gary Ramsay seconded it, the motion passed and the budget was updated.
8. COMMITTEE REPORTS
- Communications / Kendall Gastelu & Kelli Henry
- Keep an eye out for targeted fundraising campaigns
- Newsletter redesign is in progress
- Looking for a volunteer to help with the website
- Fundraising / Kirsten Marino & Rosemary Wagner
- Macbook Air raffle info will launch today
- New See’s Candy online fundraiser
- Minted.com fundraiser
- Farm to People fundraiser has had very low participation
- Special Education / Justine Keil & Isabel Santiago-Gordon
- Meeting tomorrow to go through committees
- Working on an issue that came up this week that a new mode of communications via Google classroom was not well-received by parents. Privacy concerns were raised, although it does conform to DOE privacy standards.
- High volume of questions about Special Ed Gary R wanted to make clear that new portal will not allow shorter response times
- Gary R gave an update of the many actions have been taken and still scale remains an issue. Not enough time to both talk about the work and do the work. Three weeks from today there will be a face-to-face with AP Crews. Justine asked to include the student reps and a rep from the SLT in this meeting.
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion / Melissa Magallanes & Jeffrey Marshall
- No update this time
- Community-Building / Cathy Lang Ho & Judy Olsen
- Thank you neighborhood reps for 5 different events. The gatherings with parents are popular but student attendance has been low. Wear blue to find each other!
- Grade reps have been active holding potlucks (merch sales will happen to coincide)
- Hospitality / Jennifer Weisbord
- For Halloween had donuts for teachers
- Asking for volunteers and ideas. Event for Valentine’s Day? Holiday party for the teachers?
- Merchandise / Lisa Starr & Toby Williams
- Merch tables will be at potlucks. Thanks to the volunteers!
- School wide sale will be on Friday 12/2 (these will happen monthly)
- Popular items are in stock
- Working on bringing up the online store
- Volunteers are welcome
9. SLT UPDATE – Natasha Zaretsky
No update.
10. OTHER BUSINESS
No new business.
10. MEETING ADJOURNED
Alison made a motion, Susan seconded it, meeting adjourned.
Our next monthly meeting is 12/12/22 on Zoom.
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