Beacon PTA Meeting Minutes – Jan. 2020
General PTA Meeting
January 13, 2020 (6pm – 8pm)
MINUTES
Welcome – Abi Fenelon, PTA Co-President
Abi welcomed parents to the meeting, and requested that any parents who were representing the press please identify themselves. It is important that this is a safe space for all parents and important to let everyone know if the press is at this meeting.
Motion was made to approve minutes from the December 2019 meeting, and motion was approved.
Treasury Report – Karin Polo Barrett
Year-to-date revenue is at $240,342 with year-to-date expenses running at $171,061. Our cash balance as of December 1 was $378,147 and our closing balance as of December 31, was $379,670. The year-end fundraiser, which was framed as a countdown to New Year’s Day, was successful. From December 26-31, we brought in $23K with $14K coming in on December 31st alone. Our expenses are running higher than last year due to higher college office expenses, earlier timing of some payments (BDAT, dance, Naviance), higher sports costs, and higher credit card fees. The Treasurer team is submitting the PTA’s required interim budget report to the DOE by January 31, 2020.
School Leadership Team Election – Robin Broshi
Robin Broshi was introduced. The election was held for an open position on the SLT that will run through the end of the year. Information about the open position and the election was disseminated to the parent community, and interested parents attended. In addition, interested parents were able to nominate themselves from the floor at this meeting.
Lisa Shatz, a current parent member of the SLT, was introduced. The SLT position is open due the fact that a Beacon family that needed to move mid-year and the parent therefore gave up their position. The SLT meets once a month, usually on a Thursday. There are 5 seats for parents on the SLT, in addition to the PTA president or a representative from the PTA.
Robin Broshi introduced the candidates, and each was asked to make a one-minute statement. There were three additional people to those listed on the ballot who nominated themselves from the floor at the meeting. Candidates were: Angelina Fisher, Angela Zagoren, Deborah Lifshey, Dexter Braithwaite, Michael Eskin, Mark, Harriet Cole, and Sergio Silvera. Parents were reminded that there would be more seats opening up on the SLT when the 2020-21 SLT parent members were elected in May. The results of the vote were that Harriet Cole was elected. Harriet has a daughter in the 10th grade and is a communication specialist and the author of 7 books.
Committee & Vice President Reports
- Auction & Fundraising – The Gala is scheduled for April 3rd. The Auction team is looking for donations (forms can be found in newsletter and on website) as well as volunteers to help enter donations into the database. This can be done from home. Please reach out if you have time.
- Community Building/Relations – Sari Gabay reported that the 11th Grade Parent Potluck held on January 7th was a great success with 60 junior parents in attendance. Lindsay Peyton from the College Office presented on the college process, and answered questions from parents. The 10th Grade Parent Potluck will be held on January 23rd. Brooklyn will have a neighborhood meet up on January 31st and the Upper East Side will have a neighborhood gathering on February 3rd.
- Merchandise – The merchandise team will hold a lobby sale during lunch bands on January 31st. Parents are needed to help out, there will be a volunteer sign up form in the newsletter.
PARENT DISCUSSION ON DIVERSITY
AT BEACON – Dawan Julien & Gary Ramsey
All parents in attendance introduced themselves. A parent discussion on
diversity at Beacon was led by Dawan Julien and Gary Ramsey, co-Vice Presidents
of the PTA’s Diversity Committee.
Dawan Julien and Gary Ramsey stated: “Tonight we only have an hour, so we won’t be able to accomplish it all. Let’s approach this as the beginning of a longer conversation, a conversation between parents to determine what we can do to support our students and make progress. What role do we play? The framework for tonight is an expansion of what was discussed earlier in the evening at the Diversity Committee meeting. We want you to be able to take risks and speak honestly. Use any moments of discomfort to dig deeper. What is said here, stays here. What we learn here is what we want to share with the community. Things might be said with good intentions, but be received with a bad impact. Take responsibility for the impact of your words regardless of your intentions. Expect and accept a lack of closure.”
Parents broke up into smaller groups to discuss and reconvened later. Parents who were at the meeting agreed to the following action items/goals:
- Creating a safe space for students (BUU students) to speak to parents (PTA Diversity or smaller group) about their concerns at Beacon (demand list).
- Getting a permanent Diversity/Equity/Inclusion (DEI) or restorative justice person at Beacon so that students have someone to speak with when they don’t feel safe and to handle issues before they get out of hand.
- Professional Development research. Sub committee will be set up to pursue getting all staff trained on handling DEI issues. Eventually, they would like to see something of substance added to the curriculum as well.
- Accountability and Transparency. Follow up with Ms. Lacy and DOE to find out what school agreed to, what they won’t do and why, and what is the timeline for executing promises made. (Letter, phone call, face-to-face)
- Wider Community Engagement. Have direct conversations with OUR kids about their views about DEI issues at school. (After PBAs) Talk to parents we know who are not on the committee and invite them to join committee and/or advocate DEI goals.
The meeting adjourned at 8pm.
