MHLT PTO

Minutes

January 12, 2006

The meeting was called to order at 3:30 pm by president Ellen Wynkoop.  There were 13 members present for the meeting.

Chris Garcia made a motion to approve the agenda as presented.  Ellen Wynkoop seconded the motion and the motion carried.

Approval of the December meeting’s minutes was deferred to the next meeting.

Lizzie Weitz presented the treasurer’s report.  The current balance in the treasury is $14, 618.  The sum of $4000 will be moved to the saving’s account for future playground purchases.  Skate Time is coming up and will cost around $3000, and $6000 is encumbered for Artist in Residence at this time.

Requests:

• Dan Sosnoski requested a second set of controllers to go along with the jeopardy game that the school owns.  The cost is $250.  Chris Garcia made a motion to approve the request.  Susie Scandin seconded the motion and the motion carried.
• Denise Wiza requested some parent help for the student council late night on February 10^th.  It will be held for 4^th, 5^th and 6^th graders  from 6:30-8 pm.  Denise needs parents to help chaperone.  Ellen Wynkoop will put a notice in the Firebird newsletter asking for helpers.  Marian Wenman moved that we provide  $40 for door prizes.  Ellen Wynkoop seconded the motion and the motion passed.
• Sue Damske and Wade Wentland requested funds for Skate Time.  PTO has paid $3 per student in the past and the students have paid $2.  Ellen Wynkoop made a motion to fund this activity and the motion was seconded by Denise Wiza.  The motion carried.

Other Business:

The Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction will be held on March 9^th.  Ellen Wynkoop will call those who volunteered in the fall to get the ball rolling.

The next two meetings were scheduled for February 6^th and March 6^th.

The fun fair is on hold for the moment.

There was a discussion about classroom parties and concerns held by parents about gift exchanges and too much candy and sweets at the parties.  The prevailing preference was to forgo classroom gift exchanges and instead have a mitten/hat tree or something community service oriented, with the items donated to the Lakeland Sharing Foundation or another community organization.  Mrs. Wolff also expressed concern about teacher gifts getting out of hand.  Chris Garcia and Liz Chapes volunteered to come up with some advisory guidelines from PTO to help room parents and teachers in party planning.

Lynn Laurence and Eileen Durette gave an overview of the Artist in Residence program.  The program is being scaled back this year due to funding no longer being provided by the school and a feeling that there were too many assemblies last year.  Terry Dalton will be working with Grades 2,4, and 6 in March.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:29.

Respectfully submitted,

Cathy Gelinas

Secretary