MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Location: file:///C:/8E96448C/JanuaryMinutes-Final.htm Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" Bellevue PTSA Council

Bellevue PTSA Council

 General Membership Me= eting

Monday, January 7, 2008 / Bellevue School District off= ice (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

Meeting was called to order at 7:06 p.m. by President = Connie Gerlitz

 

Guest Speaker= - Melissa Slater from the district gave a presentation on National Board Certification process for teachers in the district. See attached handout.

 

November meet= ing minutes were presented and approved as written.

 

Treasurers Re= port:  Copy of treasurer’s report o= ffered by Janet Suppes

Two reminders given - Jan 25th is next paym= ent for dues to Janet Suppes.  This payment will determine how many voting delegates you will be allowed at PTSA convention in May.  We have 83= 22 members to date registered across the district.

Scholarship money ($200.00) is due= , please try to send it in with membership dues.  We have 8322 members to date regis= tered.

Bronze Metal Membership Awards were distributed to sch= ools who achieved 50% of last year’s membership by September 30th.

 

Announcements= /Committee reports

 

Training/ Audrey Benne= tt– Provided handouts on Training Tidbits for January and February, and Ideas f= or pursuing the “The Pursuit of Excellence Award” on the reverse side.  She reinforced availabi= lity of training classes available should anyone desire one.   Action It= ems for Presidents in January/February-*Pub= licize the Road Show *Make Plans for Focus Days <= span style=3D'color:red'>* Get nomination committee in place.  = Review duties of this committee

 

 Robinswood/ Susan Whittlesey -There has been an outstanding response from the community wi= th much thanks given for same.  S= usan encouraged schools to make arrangements for helping with Staff Appreciation= in future months.  Odle Middle School will do January.  We still need volunteers to cover = the months of May and June.  They received a financial grant from the 24-hour relay, but as a result won't be able to have their fees waived to participate in the relay this year.  Susan will probably withhold the amount of the participation fee from the grant so that Robinswood students can continue to participate in the 24-hour. A request for a donation of artificial plants was made to help with atmosphere in the school.  Bring in baked goods January 25th to help support a current fundraiser being done at = the school.  Contact Info for Robinswood Outreach - Susan Whittlesey 425-641-1316 or Susan Haizlip 425-747-7485.

 

Bond Issue/Jo= hn Stokes – Passing the bond this year will be the biggest fund rais= er we can do.   This will co= ntinue the rebuilding program we started 5 years ago.  Bellevue switched from remodels to rebuilding.  The bond was $340 million last time.  With the inflation factor, this wa= s not enough.  There are a few schoo= ls that    We are asking for a 545 million bond.  Believe it or not, this will be a tax rate lower than the last bond.=   We = need 60% passage rate.   What we n= eed from you is to keep communicating in your community regarding the importanc= e of this issue.  We would like you= to make sure you have a line item for bonds and levies in your school budget.<= /span>  There are speakers available = to come to your school between now and March 10th which is the vote date. Q and A from the group.

 

Spring Celebr= ation/Pat Voelker -- Spring Celebration is being moved from May to late April.  It is targeted to be a luncheon ra= ther than a dessert evening event.  Suggestions were made for the day to be Tuesday or Thursday to incre= ase attendance oppose to a Wednesday which is an early release day causing child care issues for elementary school officers.

 

Road Show/Pat= Voelker - The Education Road Show is January 30th “HelpYour Student Learn”.

Dr. John Bransford from th= e UW Life Center will be the guest speaker.&nbs= p; Information can be found on the district website about the event.   Fliers and marketing suggest= ions for the group were handed out to help promote the event.  The importance of marketing the ev= ent was stressed.

 

Council Schol= arships/ Connie Gerlitz -- The council offers two scholarship awards to each high school; one for public service and one for academic achievements.  These are presented at the Spring Celebration.  Please promote t= he availability of these in your high schools. Applications are attempting to = go electronic, or you can contact your school counselor for an application.  

 

Reflection Pr= ogram / Connie Gerlitz - This PTSA sponsored program is experiencing increased = in participation this year.   All schools have at least one entry.  This year’s theme “I can make a difference by……..”=     Display and judging of entries will be January 15th – 20th at Crossroads.    Awards presented   on Jan. 20th at Crossroads.  Readings will be at University book Sto= re on January 15th.

 

Focus Day - <= span class=3DGramE>Eric  Matson -  Annual advocacy event spons= ored by the State PTSA where PTSA groups across the state go and witness how thi= ngs work in Olympia.  PTSA gets the opportunity to = give its perspective on how they think things are going. This year focus day is = Wednesday, February 13th. Important things for yo= u to be doing are inform your membership and let them know that Lake Washington = and Bellevue are co sponsoring busses.  Get= as many of your parents and students to attend. The Governor and minority lead= ers from the  = house and senate will speak to us.  = All the legislators will spend some time with us over lunch.  The day runs from 8:00a.m. to 4:00p.m.  Legislative session = begins on January 14th.  T= here are a series of town hall meetings that will be held prior to Focus Day. Th= e first one is January 9th at Crossroad community center.  6:00 p.m.

 

Other Announc= ements

Tyee Mid= dle School is doing a Curriculum Web workshop on = the January 24th

 

Nominatee Committee:  We need participan= ts for this committee.  We have three people, Betsy Johnson, Audrey Bennett and  Janet Suppes   Quanda Evans, was  nominated to the Nominating committ= ee. She accepted the nomination and was approved to the committee. <= /sup>

Vote:  Council was handed = ballet for Region Two Director.  Audr= ey Bennett left the room as she is a candidate running for this position.  Vote totals :<= /span>  Audrey Bennett  -=   Heather Gillette  1

Bellevue PTSA Council will vote for Audrey Bennet= t for the Region Two Director position.

A motion was all of those in favor of increasing = the amount to BQS from $100 to $200.00.

Motions : = John Stokes made a  motion to alloc= ate $1,000.00 from the council budget to help cover the cost of the  bus for focus day. It was seconded= and approved.

A motion was made to increase the amount donated = from council to BQS from $100.00 to $200.00 to support efforts towards passing t= he March Bond. It was second and approved.

Action Items:=   See highlighted items in red <= /p>

 

President Connie Gerlitz adjourned meeting at 8:46 p.m= .   Some people remained after m= eeting to discuss the topic of “Going paperless in your school.”

 

Pat Voelker

Bellevue<= /st1:place> PTSA Council Secretary