12/22/11 P.S. 85Q GENERAL MEETING MINUTES 8:30 a.m.
• Meeting was called to order at 8:37 a.m. by PA Co-President Randi Marshall
• Motion made to approve minutes from 11/30/11; seconded and approved.
• President’s report (Randi Marshall): 1. Movie Night will be in early January; waiting for approval from Ms. Chang. 2. Teacher wish lists—have been filling many of the requests. Decision was made not to make the lists public, in order to avoid overlap with more than one parent buying the same items.
• Old/New Business:
New Business (Randi Marshall): New amendments to help PA move toward 501c3 status were voted on, Article VIII, sections 5 & 6 from the bylaws.
-Section 5 amendment: Conflict of Interest provision, which is required by the IRS for 501c3 status. Requires transparency: must disclose connections to businesses, etc. by PA board members. Ex., if a board member wants us to use a certain vendor for Carnival, must reveal if she has a spouse, relative, friend, etc. who works for that vendor. Language is from IRS, tweaked by Rebecca Bratspies to be made appropriate for P.S. 85.
-Section 6: Indemnification provision, which allows PA to purchase insurance. Cost will be roughly $600 per year, though indemnification provision doesn’t commit PA to any money. Will still need to get purchase of insurance approved by general membership each year. Insurance is important regardless of 501c3 status, since DOE coverage, which non-501c3 PAs have, isn’t really good enough.
-Motion made for both amendments, seconded, approved. 24 yeas out of 27 meeting attendees, no nays.
-Third by-laws amendment proposed by Mary Downing. Request to add following language to Article IV, executive board section: The Chairperson of the Title I Committee or the Title I Parent Advisory Council, whichever is applicable, shall be a member of the executive board. MD says one of the responsibilities of both Title I & PA is to get parents involved, so it makes sense to work together.
Questions from membership:
* Is Title I already under PA? Title I chair Mary Downing said at Title I meeting last school year, Title I was voted not to be a subcommittee. Randi Marshal and Maryam Rahmani said it was voted on to be a subcommittee. Members asked that the answer be clarified. No one present had copies of minutes from the Title I meeting.
* Are there other committees that are part of the executive board? No. Was Title I voted in by membership? No.
* Is there a spot on the SLT for Title I? Yes, chairperson sits on SLT.
* Are other subcommittees voted in? No.
* How are Title I & PA connected? They aren’t really connected.
* Is Title 1 committee in charge of all Title I money? No, just $2500 set aside for parent involvement.
Two types of committees on the PA: Ad hoc and standing. Standing committees are required by the by-laws. Legally obligated to have Title I, but it’s not voted in by the PA. Motion made to table amendment request until relationship between PA & Title I is clarified. Seconded, 17/27 yays, no abstentions or nays.
• Treasurer’s Report (Jeff Tapper): Starting balance was 3,539.48; balance as of 12/19/11 is $12,316.39 from dues, chocolate sale and other fundraisers. Biggest expense was printer support, second biggest teacher wish list.
• Committee reports:
1. Fundraising Committee report (Evie Hantzopoulos): Brainstorming meeting was 12/7. Narrowed down fundraising choices to:
-P.S. 85 international cookbook for International Night, which will involve collecting & compiling recipies and other tasks.
-Major silent auction on International Night. Need to collect giftcards and service donations, etc., from local businesses. Will also have raffle at International Night.
-Parents’ social fundraiser—beer and burgers at Bare Burger in February.
-Grant writing. Allen & Evie may hold another grant writing workshop.
-School newsletter. Plan to get someone to donate printing, will sell ads. P. S. 122 made $4000 from this. Will create forms asking for donations.
2. 5th grade Committee report (Janet Gordillo). Paid deposit on yearbook and picked cover. Must be finished by April 9 for June delivery.
3. Membership committee report (Serena Reisner): Still need class parents for about 1/3 of the classes.
4. SLT report (Maryam Rahmani): CEP (Comprehensive Education Plan) was submitted. Attended district leadership meeting with UFT reps and Superintendent Compasto. Recess issues were brought up. Required to have 45 minutes of recess. Learning leaders have been well received and lunch aides will be receiving training. Makes a difference when parents come as a group to CEC meetings. Presidents Council meeting. Discussed by-laws—CEC leadership had good suggestions for adjustments to bylaws. Focus of meeting was on construction issues at P.S. 2 and P.S. 11, which did not get construction money they need.
Announcements for top seller of chocolate sale: The three top sellers were Savannah Finnerty from 1-110, Brianna Bezman from 5-304, and Annabelle Banas from K-105. The raffle winner was Adriana Cordero from K-105.
Meeting adjourned at 9:28 a.m.
