Minutes From Meetings 2008-2009

President’s Report:   PTA will again make a donation to Exit With Pride. Treasurer Cindy Topps will prepare a check for $1,000. An expected 600 to 650 seniors will attend. If anyone has connections to get free items such as Frisbees, water bottles, food, etc. that would be appreciated. The PTA could donate some long sleeved t-shirts.

Secretary’s Report:   The March minutes were accepted.

Treasurer’s Report:  The Treasurer’s Report has been filed for audit.

Unfinished Business: The Nominating Committee is still in need of a candidate for President. Incumbents from all other offices have agreed to be nominated again this year. Please pass the word about this opportunity. The nominating committee will post the slate of candidates on the DGS web site and will hold an election thirty days or more following the posting.

Funding for Transfer Student Lunches was discussed. A $500 line item to fund this will be included in next year’s budget proposal. There are a couple hundred students who transfer in and out of DGS each year, and the lunches are a way of helping these students.

Re-scheduling Staff Appreciation Week had been discussed at the last meeting since the Staff Breakfast had to be re-scheduled to May 16. Because of the already scheduled massages, Staff Appreciation Week will remain the week of May 5. Activities are as follows:

Monday:   Potato chip delivery to department.  Announcement of drawing winners

Tuesday: Notes in mailboxes (with candy and massage reminders).  Massages in staff cafeteria.  Distribution of drawing items

Wed.:      Delivery of home-baked sweets to department offices

Friday:     Ice cream sundae bar during all lunch periods

 New Business:  Prom procedures for out of school guests were discussed. The guest needs to have his/her school complete a form, which is then returned to DGS for approval. Students do not need to have a date for prom, but it is encouraged. A list of students who would like to attend and need a date is available.

 This is Dr. McDonald’s last meeting as Principal of DGS, as he moves to his new role as Superintendent. He thanked the PTA for their service and noted that it has emerged as a strong group in the last five years, and has added value to students and teachers. Dan Cozza and now Ed Schwartz have been a great support.

 The PTA thanked Rena Burks for serving as President, as she steps down after several years in this role.

 Next meeting: September 16, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. in the Library.

 Meeting Adjourned at 7:19 p.m.

Submitted by Martie Kennedy

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September 16, 2008

Call to Order: The meeting was opened at 6: 34 p.m. Deb Marszalek presented the slate of officers on behalf of the nominating committee:

            President                              Cheri Peterson

            VP Membership                      Barb Schrage

            Volunteer Bureau                   Lisa Wivinis

            Treasurer                              Cindy Topps

            Secretary                              Martie Kennedy

The new slate of officers was approved.

President Cheri Peterson welcomed everyone and asked those in attendance to introduce themselves. New Principal Stephan Bild was also introduced.

Principal’s Report:     Associate Principal Ed Schwartz reported on the following:

Principal Stephan Bild discussed the Parent Advisory Board. This group meets from 7:30 to 9 p.m. after the PTA meeting. It is a group of 20 to 25 parents who are invited to attend. Tonight’s topic will be Professional Learning Communities, and included in the discussion will be grade level determination. School Improvement will be discussed at either the October or November Parent Advisory Board meeting. If you are interested in participating, contact Mr. Bild.

Mr. Bild will begin a similar group for students next month, the Student Advisory Board.

Secretary’s Report:   The April minutes were accepted.

Treasurer’s Report: 

Unfinished Business: The Directory was discussed. It is important that it be done in a timely manner. Cheri Peterson will contact Anita James Printing to determine if they can prepare it from a PTA database; she will get a price quote.

PTA has a large amount of money. At next month’s meeting, members will brainstorm ideas on how this money should be allocated. The money should be used for areas that would benefit the whole school, not just one particular group. It should also be for things that are above and beyond what is part of the normal school curriculum and expenses. One possible use is in the library.

The PTA will look into purchasing poinsettias from Friends of Fine Arts to decorate tables for the Holiday Breakfast.

Spirit Wear sales at packet pick up were so good that more items need to be ordered for the sale during parent teacher conferences. There are very few small items in the current inventory. PTA spirit wear is sold at “all school” events like the teacher conferences. Booster groups normally sell their spirit wear at their own events. For example, Football Boosters sell items at football games.

New Business: If anyone is interested in serving on the Incentive Reward Committee, contact Ed Schwartz.

Membership:  Checks were not included with some PTA membership forms. Barb Schrage has been trying to contact these individuals. There are still about 15 parents who need to submit payment.

Next meeting: October 21, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. in the Library.

Meeting Adjourned at 7:58 p.m.

Submitted by Martie Kennedy

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October 21, 2008

Call to Order: President Cheri Peterson called the meeting to order at 6:39 p.m.

Principal’s Report:     Associate Principal Ed Schwartz reported on the following:

Principal Stephan Bild discussed the Student Advisory Board. The first meeting will be held on Friday morning before school. About 50 students were invited, and 20-21 students are expected to attend. Students are excited about having a voice in the school.

The subject of tonight’s Parent Advisory Board will be STRIVE tutoring and PSAE preparation.

Mr. Bild announced that the School Board passed a new grade level determination policy. In the past, grade level was based solely on how many years that students had attended the school. Students must now also earn a set number of credits. There has been a lot of support for this policy change, and it will affect very few students. (For example, a fourth year student may not be able to attend prom if they do not have enough senior level credits.) Grade level determination is made in August, so this policy change may lead to changes in summer school. DGS is doing everything possible to help students recover academically before the end of the school year.

President’s Report:   The directory is nearly ready to be published, with an anticipated completion date of early November. It was requested that the names and phone numbers of PTA officers and committee chairs be included in the directory. Anita James Printing will print the directories, with the same format as last year. The Safe Homes Pledge was taken out, as it was last year. Lisa Wivinis will be responsible for mailing the directory and will need 3 or 4 volunteers to assist. The cheapest bulk rate for mailing of the directories was discussed, including sorting labels by 5-digit zip code.

Cheri attended the Downers Grove PTA Council meeting, where the Reflections program was discussed. Cheri forwarded information to Glenn Williams, Chairman of the Fine Arts Department.

Deb Marszalek will update the PTA bylaws.

Membership:  As of late September, there are 1,002 PTA members.

Treasurer’s Report:  Deb Marszalek, Cheri Peterson, and Vera Airdo conducted an audit and determined that everything is complete and correct. A discussion on revisions to the budget was tabled until the November PTA meeting.

Secretary’s Report:   The September minutes were accepted. Thank you notes will be sent to all PTA members who donated $10 or more.

Unfinished Business: Spirit Wear will be sold outside the cafeteria during the parent teacher conferences on October 30^th. Mr. Schwartz will arrange for table set up and make signs. If anyone is able to help with the sale, contact Vanessa McGriff-Culver.

PTA had hoped to purchase poinsettias for the Holiday Breakfast from Friends of the Fine Arts. However, December 10 is the delivery date, and the Holiday Breakfast is scheduled for December 18. It might be difficult to store the flowers for so long, so Ed Schwartz will ask if there can be a separate delivery for PTA.

There is currently a large amount of money in the Treasury; PTA guidelines specify that money should be spent. Where to allocate PTA funds was discussed, including the following:

There will be more discussion at the November PTA meeting.

Next meeting: November 18, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. in the Library.

Meeting Adjourned at 7:47 p.m.

Submitted by Martie Kennedy

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November 18, 2008

Call to Order: President Cheri Peterson welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order at 6:37 p.m.

Secretary’s Report:   The October minutes were accepted. Thank you notes were sent to all PTA members who donated $10 or more.

Treasurer’s Report:   Cindy Topps reported that there was a $100 check for spirit wear returned for non-sufficient funds. Mr. Schwartz pointed out that this was probably an honest mistake. He will assist Cindy in drafting a letter to the parent. PTA does not incur NSF fees.

Cindy’s car was stolen last month, and PTA statements were in the car. To insure that there was no access to the account, the old account was closed and a new account was opened. The signers on the account are Cindy Topps, Lisa Wivinis, Cheri Peterson, and Barb Schrage.

The 990-N tax return has been filed.

Holy Cow has been paid for spirit wear. They are cleaning some shirts that were stained and will sew a shirt that needs to be repaired.

Cindy created a new “Deposit Voucher” form that will be put in the cash box.

The Treasurer’s Report has been filed for audit.

Principal’s Report:     Associate Principal Ed Schwartz reported on the following:

Principal Stephan Bild discussed tonight’s Parent Advisory Board meeting. The topic will be PSAE results, Adequate Yearly Progress, and the School Improvement Plan. Twenty-four students attended the first Student Advisory Board meeting. They will meet again on December 8^th to discuss Adequate Yearly Progress and the School Improvement Plan. This has been very enjoyable for Mr. Bild, and the students are excited about these meetings.

New Business:   Two representatives from DGS Student Government were introduced. Ryan Gleason and Christian Riedl discussed the Closet project that Student Government is sponsoring this year. A contractor is designing a large closet that will be stocked with clothing for DGS students in need. This could be formalwear, casual clothing, coats, etc. The school’s social workers and counselors will work with Student Government to identify students who may be in need of clothing. Other students will not know who received items. Mr. Schwartz noted that Student Government has a well-thought-out plan which will benefit students.

Membership:  Barb Schrage reported that PTA membership cards have been distributed. If anyone still needs one, contact Barb.

Unfinished Business: The directories have been mailed. Thanks to all who stuffed envelopes last week. Anita James printed the directories and delivered them at no charge. The cost was about the same as last year.

Vanessa McGriff-Culver and Deonne Harris reported that they sold about $1,100 in spirit wear during parent teacher conferences. They will again sell items during the 8^th grade open houses and registration, and have planned a different design for the new merchandise. Smaller children’s sizes will also be available. Mr. Schwartz will make sure the spirit wear sale information is included in the mailing to the class of 2013.

The staff Holiday Breakfast is scheduled for December 18^th. PTA will prepare and serve baked goods, along with providing centerpieces and raffle prizes. Cheri Peterson will contact Rena Burks about chairing this activity. PTA had considered purchasing poinsettia centerpieces from a school group, but their delivery date is much earlier than the breakfast and it would have been difficult to store the flowers.

A PTA scholarship for DGS students was discussed. The Illinois PTA holds a scholarship competition every year, and a DGN student received this award last year. Deb Marszalek provided information on this scholarship to the Guidance office, and information was distributed to seniors. Deb Marszalek volunteered to organize a committee to establish parameters for a possible PTA scholarship.

A gift to Young Hearts for Life was discussed. Because of the great benefit to our students, a $1,000 donation was approved.

Another potential donation would be to the Fitness Foundation. They have purchased weight equipment that is used for PE classes, athletic endeavors, and also for workouts before and after school. All students are trained in the weight room, not just athletes. Cardio equipment will be added, as well as flat panel televisions. Students are excited about the new equipment.

Next meeting: January 20, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. in the Library.

Meeting Adjourned at 8:04 p.m.

Submitted by Martie Kennedy

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January 20, 2009

Call to Order: President Cheri Peterson welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order at 6:36 p.m.

Secretary’s Report:   The November minutes were accepted.

Treasurer’s Report:   An earlier check that a parent had written for Spirit Wear was returned for non-sufficient funds. Cindy Topps will determine if it has cleared yet. If it has not, she will send a letter to the parent. Payments were made for postage and the Directory.

The Treasurer’s Report has been filed for audit.

Principal’s Report:     Associate Principal Ed Schwartz reported on the following:

Spirit Wear: Vanessa McGriff-Culver noted that Spirit Wear will be sold at the incoming Freshman Open Houses on January 26 and 28, and at the Class of 2013 Registration on February 7. New items will be delivered this week, and Mr. Schwartz will arrange for stored items to be placed in the gym by 6 p.m. on January 26. He will also arrange for the inventory to be put in a nearby closet on Monday night so that everything is ready for the Wednesday evening sale. Vanessa is contacting volunteers for the three sale dates; lunch will be provided for volunteers working on February 7. Treasurer Cindy Topps will be out of town for some of the sale dates, so Barb Schrage will make the deposits.

Unfinished Business:  Thank you to Rena Burks who did a great job chairing the Staff Holiday Breakfast. The decorations were beautiful.

Ryan Gleason and Christian Riedl provided a Student Government update. Student Government will be hiring a new DJ for the Turnabout Dance, possibly one that provides a light show. A light show would be expensive, but it would eliminate the work and expense of decorating the gym. Ryan and Christian also reported that students are using the Closet, which is a project sponsored by Student Government.

Next meeting: February 17, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. in the Library.

Meeting Adjourned at 7:15 p.m.

Submitted by Martie Kennedy

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unity High School District 99, Downers Grove, Illinois