PTA
University Park PTA Meeting Minutes – October 18, 2007
(Note: Minutes have not been officially approved by PTA)
In attendance: Shannon Mika, Mark Mundt, Rainey Wikstrom, Lacey, Cathy Kidder, Katie Thomas, Joy Murphy, Dawn Miller, Kathleen Williams, Stacie McMullen, Dennis Thompson, Ted Pinkowitz, Nikki Maloney
1. Welcome and Introductions – Terri Allsup
2. Approval of Minutes from prior meeting
Moved and seconded. Future PTA minutes will be posted on the school website.
3. Principal’s update – Dennis Thompson
* Thanks to all present for being active and involved. Need volunteers for upcoming events – spread the word.
* DPS projecting School Accountability Report (SAR) score for the year will be “high” again for 2007-2008. Need to be vigilant to maintain score.
* Late start morning (10/1) worked well, thanks to parent cooperation.
* Critical shortage of substitutes this year. Need subs with 4 year degrees – talk to the office.
* We have lost the Kindergarten para (1/2 morning), so another position is open and will need to be filled.
* Open houses and fundraising efforts along with realtor luncheon coming up soon and will need support.
* Focus on academic achievement. There are a number of 3rd graders below grade level in reading. All resources are being pooled to address this.
* Report cards will be distributed at parent/teacher conferences, followed by a Report Card Q&A night the following week.
* Middle school night – need 5th grade parents to work with Corey and Steele and invite middle schools for an information night.
4. CSC Update – Ted Pinkowitz
* Discussed enrollment and staffing; parking and traffic (Nikki Maloney); band
* CSC is going to start analyzing the School Improvement Plan (SIP). This is the business plan for the school, addressing enrollment, community, etc.
* Question: What is the best way to get CSC minutes? Discussion of using website, Thursday folders, other options. Decided a “chairman’s synopsis” will go into Thursday folders.
5. Marketing Committee – Ted Pinkowitz
The Marketing Committee is a subcommittee of the CSC. A few years ago Mr. Thompson came to the CSC with concerns about significant under-enrollment in the school. The committee was created to increase enrollment through marketing University Park Elementary School.
Activities and projects:
* UP3 program, Lunch Bunch, which will bring younger children and families into the school with the intention of retaining them.
* Survey of the neighborhood: prospective, current, choiced out families (why do they choice out? Perceived or real issues?). What can we improve, not improve, perception vs. reality that can be changed. Low class size, addressing needs of High Achieving/Gifted and Talented students, specials (art, music).
* Realtor luncheons: realtors are the best salespeople for the school and neighborhood. Next luncheon November 8th – school ambassadors needed.
* Created 4-color brochure for the school, real estate sign “riders”, welcome packet for families moving into the neighborhood (U Park Elementary, UPCC, Mom’s Club), “Meet the Principal” night for prospective families. DPS has Advertising working with our Marketing Committee as a pilot on how to market a school.
Successes:
* Enrollment has increased to over 400 this year. The Marketing Committee meets every 3rd Tues evening of the month in the school library. Everyone is welcome.
6. Administrative Update – Terri Allsup
* Innisbrook sales net over $7000 for the school. Year round sales are possible online. Thanks to Kelsey and crew.
* Links on website: we will look at placing links on the school website for Innisbrook, Target cards, Office Depot codes, etc.
* Walk to School Day (10/3) was a success. Wwater bottles and snacks were provided for all kids. We may look at doing more of these days.
7. Committee Updates:
* Fun Run and Carnival – November 3rd. Pledge envelopes have gone home. Raised $10K last year, goal is $15K this year. T-shirts were designed by a 4th grader. A DU fraternity is volunteering their time and will help through the Run and carnival. Mom’preneur exhibit will be in the gym from 10-2pm. Carnival planning is in the early stages.
* Original Artwork – teachers will do the artwork in class. This fundraiser historically brings in around $1200. Due early November.
* Garden Program – Cathy Kidder. We are at around $3500 total cost, $2000 being donated, the rest coming from PTA funds earmarked in previous years. Oct. 25-27 will be marking garden plots and building the raised beds. Nov. 10th the soil will be delivered and beds filled. Need volunteers for labor, kids are welcome to come with parents.
* Wellness Program – Rainey Wikstrom. Run program – kids have been earning tokens for running laps building up to the fun run. Great Harvest is donating food for after the Fun Run. Wellness meetings will cover recycling (ask the neighbors to use their own bins, our dumpster is filling up too quickly), greening the school. Meeting with Denver Safe Routes to School, who provided Walk to School Day waterbottles, on Oct 24th at DRCOG. Backpacks of healthy food going home on weekends to 10 kids in need from our school. Great Harvest open on Oct 21 to bake bread with kids; 100% of sales go to feed homeless DPS students.
* Family Nights Out – fundraising nights at restaurants have been very successful so far, averaging $500 for August and September. October night is the 30th at Pho Fusion, the November night is the 28th at Angelo’s Pizza.
* Fundraising Update. Focusing on the Apple Campaign. The fundraising meeting follows the marketing meeting each month. Professional fundraisers attended the last meeting, they are enthusiastic about what we are doing. $60K is the goal.
* Orange sales, first weeks of November, delivery by mid-December.
8. Financials – Stacie McMullen
* We have just under $71,000 on hand, $50,859 net after designated funds. Expect to end the year at around $32,000 with no additional fundraising. Target for the end of the year is about $75,000 to start the following year.
9. Upcoming Dates:
November 15, next PTA meeting
Marketing Committee, 11/13, 5:30-6:30pm, followed by Fundraising 6:30-7:30
Wellness Committee, next meetings 11/7 and 12/12, 12:05-1:20, bring a lunch
Fun Run Committee, Oct 29 or 30
10. Open Discussions:
Traffic – Nikki Maloney. Asking the city to put in 4-way stops at all 4 corners (adding the east intersections on Iliff and Wesley). Asking for the funds for an additional crossing attendant. Parents are encouraged to park out in the public areas such as around Observatory Park and walk their kids in to school, lessening the impact in front of the school. Updated parking maps have been sent home. Working on the Kiss & Go program for drop off, possibly using 5th grade escorts for younger kids. Goal is safety. Looking at ways to encourage kids to influence parents to do the right thing. Traffic meeting will be Nov. 5th. Will need volunteers to help direct traffic before and after school. Considering vests or attire to identify helpers. Suggestion that we ask teachers to address the concern in the parent teacher conferences.
Dennis Thompson – the word is out about U Park, and it is positive.
Paper Reduction – the school is looking at ways to reduce paper going home, such as email, opt-out, eliminating sibling duplication, outside publications.
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This page was originally posted: 4/3/2002; 9:58:42 AM.
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