Montgomery Blair High School PTSA
Minutes of PTSA Meeting --- August 17, 2005
THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE September 20, 2005 AT 7:30
Meeting Minutes - August 17th, 2005
The July minutes were approved.Treasurer's Report
Sonni Malinoff asked for a resolution that would allow the treasurer to pay operational and incidental expenses before formal approval by the PTSA meeting in September.Simultaneous Translation Equipment
Stephanie Kaufman researched the cost of buying or renting the equipment from 2 companies.
Also, Stephanie checked with MCPS and they will provide a translator for PTA meetings with 2 weeks notice. Individual action: Stephanie will contact Dave Ottalini and Rosa Sanchez about the feasibility of sharing equipment with another school, especially SSI since they are nearby and a part of our cluster.Principal's Report
1. Sign is up and running or the corner of Colesville and University Blvd.
2. Gang Issues During the first week of school, Luis Hertatto will meet with the school staff for gang training. Mr. Gainous also feels that the county is more willing to put money into after school programs such as the Sport Academy. Mr. Gainous reported that SSI will get 16 cameras to beef up their security.
3. Enrollment is 10 above the projected enrollment but 100 below last year for a total of 3150. There is still 2 weeks before school starts when people start enrolling their children.SGA:
Sebastian Johnson, Student Member of the Board of MCPS and Blair student. Margaret will be the PTSA liason from the Student Government Association1. The SGA has a new constitution that calls for a small Senate and House of Representatives.
2. The SGA is interested in pedestrian safety
3. The SGA has not been involved very much in the gang issue although Sebastian talked to Mr. Gainous about issues after fights in school so that the SGA is involved in the follow up with the student body.Pedestrian Safety:
Sally Stokes introduced Christy Huddle, Montgomery County Pedestrian Safety Coordinator Sally and Christy did a walk around the campus before the meeting to look at pedestrian/traffic issues.1. Christy mentioned that the best thing we could do as individuals was to follow the speed limit and stop for red lights.
2. She recommended that we ask for a lower speed limit on University Boulevard--40 mph is too fast
3. The reality is that it is generally uncool for kids to use pedestrian crosswalks and to walk quickly.
4. The Pilot program at Blair which trained High School students to teach k-2 students how to cross a street safely help the high school students realize that they have to set a good example for the younger students.
5. State law requires that cars stop for pedestrians in the crosswalks but it is not always safe to do so. Talking on cell phones is equivalent to driving after 2 drinks.
6. Christy presented Sally with a 12 minute video from Utah addressing pedestrian safety.
7. Safe route to school are primarily aimed at parents. Arlington County, for instance, has safe walking routes for each school on a website.Who to deal with?
1. State deals with roads but the county deals with the signals. Charlie Watkins is from SHA.
2. Timing for pedestrian crossing is too short. Bruce Mangan of the county is the one to contact. Students-what can they do?Christy asked the group to offer suggestions.
1. Tall fences like the ones in White Oak that keep people from crossing anywhere but the crosswalk.
2. Brick paving "invites" pedestrians to approach the curb--grass and shrubs would offer a deterence.
3. Ask the Blair Resource Officer to make pedestrian safety a high priority. There are 17-18 pedestrian deaths a year and over 500 injuries
4. Crossing guards
5. Tie an event to October "Walk to School" Day.
6. ESOL classes could teach pedestrian safety
7. Give reflectors to bus riders. Could a foundation or 3M Corporation give a grant for reflective material. Individual action-- Cindy Wright-Johnson will do some research into grants.Old Business
1. Staff--1/2 English and Tech teacher still to be hired.
2. Graduation location--need people to work on this issue
3. Connection class is no longer a required class. This was a county decision. A letter was sent to all 9th graders and the parents were told to submit a letter to Mr. Gainous requesting a change. At this time he has received 3 letters.1. Many st udents don't have a complete schedule and they will be the first priority; new enrollees will be the 2nd priority; and general requests for change will be the first priority.
2. Many classes are at or above capacity.
4. September 8th is Back to School night. Pencils in Spanish and English will be given out to advertise the event.
5. Executive Board Meetings has proposed 4 executive board meetings, but information from the state PTA workshop required that we have one each month.
Proposed that Exec Board will meet from 7:15 to 7:30 on months when the full executive board is not meeting. All meetings at 7:15 are just prior to general PTSA meetings and they are all in the evening 9/20 7:15
10/10 7:30
11/15 7:15
12/12 7:30
1/17 7:15
2/13 7:30
3/21 7:15
4/3 7:30
5/16 7:15
6/20 7:15
6. Membership Committee Carolyn Lichtenstein1. The committee needs help at Back to School Night.
2. Carmen Dupree thought we needed a more personal approach to BTS
3. Every PTSA member will receive a calendar with school dates listed
4. The present incentives include something yet determined at the $25 level and a shirt at the $50 levelIndividual Action
Carolyn Lichtenstien will contact Beth Martin, PTSA Volunteer Coordinator, for help in locating volunteers for BSNNew Business
1. The PTSA needs a NAACP Parents Council Representative
2. Mr. Gainous reported that this year there is a box to check so that student information does not go to military recruiters.
3. Grading and Reporting--information will be coming home to parents through the mail.
4. The Homecoming Game has been changed to Saturday, October 9th at 2 p.m. and the dance will be that evening.The meeting adjourned at 9:25