Bellevue PTSA Council

Bellevue PTSA Council 2.3

General Membership Meeting

Monday, February 4, 9:30 a.m. / Bellevue School Dis= trict office (ESC)

Announcement of this meeting was given in email format= and is listed in Council Directory and on the website.

In attendance: see sign in sheet

A quorum is present

Executive Vice President John Stokes presided over mee= ting that was called to order at 9:38 a.m.

January meeting minutes were presented. Betsy Johnson = made a motion to accept the minutes as written. The motion was seconded and approv= ed.

The Treasurer= ’s Report was available for review. Janet Suppes reported $21,000 in the b= ank. She reported there are 8995 members to date for Bellevue PTSA Council.

Committee Reports:

Leadership – Audrey Bennett: Regional training of PTA basics and more, called Sp= ring Conference, is scheduled for March 15. It will be held at Mt. Si High School. Nominating Committee training will be available soon. Audrey will send an email.

Focus Day= – Eric Matson: Bellevue PTSA Council has procured two buses driving to Olympia on Februar= y 13. The buses are paid for by Council and Lake Washington PTSA Council and there is still room for people to attend. Many kids are attending this year and Eric asked weather we want to reexamine this trip as an educational tool or an advocacy trip for the next year. Many feel that this trip can be both and should be extended to other youth groups including Boy and Girl Scouts, Political Science High School class students, etc. for next year. There is = not a problem with space this year on the two buses but next year Council will = need to make this determination about bussing and promoting the day for youth several months in advance.

Spring Celebr= ation – Cindy Hastings: Spring Celebration is an event to honor Council PTSA scholarship award winners and other awards winners within the Council. A facility is being sought for a Tuesday or Thursday during lunchtime in late April or early May.

Reflections – Audrey Bennett: A big thank you to Jennifer Wasierski for her work = on Reflections. Next year’s theme is “W= ow . . .”. John encouraged local units to recruit a Reflections Chair now as this program takes off in September.

Education Roadshow – Pat Voelker: Pat reported that attendance doubled, from 200 to 400, this year. She commented that only 79 feedback cards were turned in. From those, the topic for next year leans to Study Skills and Learning Challenges.

Robinswood – Audrey Bennett. Will send electronic report (attached)

PAAC R= 11; Karen Campbell. Parent Advisory and Action Committee has reformed and is composed of parents and school representatives from many area schools to br= idge the gap to ESL and ELL families. The committee meets the 1^st Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Highland Middle Sch= ool. Karen will get a list, by school, = of each representative that is participating.

Nominating Committee – Betsy Johnson. If you have names to submit, pl= ease contact Betsy at betsygpj@hotmail.c= om.

Scholarships – John Stokes. The committee is at work. Applications are at e= ach high school in counselor’s office and on line.

Announcements and New Business

N. Area VP – Karen Campbell: Ardmor= e has very low PTA members at 25 this year compared to 85 last year. The PTA wants to do a BINGO night and would like help soliciting prizes for the eve= nt. Karen will provide a list of desired = items for anyone to contribute to.

BQS ̵= 1; John Stokes. Bellevue Quality Schools needs volunteers to make phone calls for l= ate February to encourage voter turn out. They would also appreciate money to r= un the campaign. Sue Cedarleaf expressed an interest in a detailed plan of what will be covered in the bond. John indicated he will get that for her and up online at BQS website.=

Scheduled Speaker(s):

BEA Proposal – Stephan Mille= r. Not able to attend today. Will reschedule.

Karen Clark, BSD Interim Superintendent spoke to questions about the last bond and what it provided and what the new bond wi= ll provide for in terms of school construction projects. She also spoke to the= newspaper article outlining the district’s deficit. She outlined the reason for= the deficit and the plan to rebuild the contingency fund balance.

Action Items: see items in bold face type.

Meeting was adjourned at 11:55 a.m.

Cindy Hastings

Bellevue<= /st1:City> PTSA Council Secretary