Montgomery Blair High School PTSA

Minutes of PTSA Meeting --- May 15, 2007

May 15, 2007
PTSA General Membership Meeting

Present: Jeanne Philbin, Ole Varmer, Melissa Yorks, Carol Smalls, Susan Levi, Karen Powers, George Slenkovich, Lisa Gabriel, Valma Yearwood, Nancy Newton, Heidi Coleman, Chih Chow, Diana Vidutis, Sam Stokes, Linda Willmott, Eva Sullivan, Sally Taber, Ann Collins, Rosanne Hurwitz, Andrew Partan, Peggy Ottalini, Barbara Tobias, Linda Simon, Miriam Szapiro, Beth Martin, Dave Ottalini, Deborah Stoll, Bob Gillette, Debra Reed-Gillette  

Facilitator: Deborah Stoll
Time Keeper: Dave Ottalini
Recorder: Debra Reed-Gillette

Deborah called the meeting to order at 7:35 pm .

All members are reminded to CLEARLY print their name on the sign-in sheet for each meeting.

Minutes for the April meeting were approved with the correction that Treasurer, Nancy Newton, be added to the list of those present.

Literacy Program at Blair:  Blair Literacy coaches, Karen Kranzer and Debbie Fickenscher, gave a presentation on the Blair Literacy program.  The vision is that reading, writing, speaking, listening, and viewing should be embedded in all that is happening in any discussion at Blair, from PE, music/arts, and all other subjects.  Mr. Gainous has been the keystone to literacy in the Blair cluster.  Blair is the only high school in the county with a reading department, which serves students in the regular program (below level, on level, and honors students) as well as CAP and Magnet program students.  The vision began with Mr. Gainous 3 years ago.  He has provided both funding and the impetus beginning at the elementary school level and moving up to the middle and high school so that all students are getting a consistent literacy message and that they all understand the policies, procedures, and protocols.  The literacy teams meets with the ILT and uses a train the trainers model and moves the literacy message out thru the Academies, the Departments, the teachers and the para-educators.

The MAP-R is administered to all 9^th graders in January.  In May all 10^th graders needing intervention and all 9^th graders at or below grade level are reassessed.  Vocabulary, informational text, and fiction analysis are assessed.

Chris Barclay, Board of Education:  Chris Barclay from the Board of Education introduced himself and also answered questions from those in attendance.  Mr. Barclay noted that there are 2 primary issues on his agenda at this time:  the $6-7 million budget cut and Principal selection for Mr. Gainous replacement.  Mr. Barclay also wants to assure the Blair community that he DOES believe part of his job is constituent services.  These will include discussions about HSAs, suspension rates, graduation rates, what is happening to those students who do not graduate, and High School Plus. 

Questions/concerns raised from the audience included the overuse of Blair for summer school, night/evening school, High School Plus, and overcrowding of the facility for regular day school students.  Building services never seems to be able to catch up . . .

Issues concerning the need for Bi-lingual community outreach coordinators and pedestrian safety around Blair were also brought to Mr. Barclay's attention. 

Principal's report:  HSAs are on Monday.  Students should be on time and ready to do their best.  Nontesters can come into the SAC for a study hall, or report at the scheduled time.  A letter went out today (May 15) to all families outlining the testing dates/times.  There is very high pressure on the staff to make AYP.  Mr. Gainous thanked all present for their support over the years.

Treasurer's report:  The Silent Auction made $9000, which was below our projection of $12,000.  It was suggested, since the proceeds have been flat for the previous 2-3 years, that we not anticipate anything over $9000.  Anyone needing end of the year reimbursement should contact Nancy as soon as possible.
May 2007 Financial Summary Report

Elections:  The following slate of officers was accepted by acclimation:

President:  Dave Ottalini
1^st Vice President:  Bob Gillette
Treasurer:  Nancy Newton
Recording Secretary:  Debra Reed-Gillette
VP for Academic Achievement:  Rosanne Hurwitz
VP for Administration:  Howard Kohn

There were no nominations from the floor.  The nominating committee will continue to solicit to fill non-elected positions in the coming weeks as there are still some un-filled positions.

Those positions will be announced at the next meeting, on June 6^th.

Painless Fundraising:  Carol reminded everyone that the Safeway eScrip program is still ongoing.  She will be working on a flyer to bring to the incoming 9^th grade picnic to get families signed up for eScrip and Giant as well as provide information for all of the other Fundraising programs which Blair receives money from.

Pedestrian Safety:  The new drop off on University Blvd seems to be working well.  They do not appear to need all spaces acquired, so some of those will be returned to the student parking pool.  Thanks to Jim Funk and the Security Staff for working with us to get this legal drop off solution in place.  The new sign is in place on Colesville Road (green).  The old sign in front of the parking lot on Colesville Road needs a "facelift" as it is peeling.  The old Blair sign that was replaced by the electronic sign will be installed near the fire station on University Blvd to improve signage at that entrance.

Silent Auction:  The Silent Auction was very professionally done and raised $9000 for the school.  They need a much larger committee next year to solicit more items.

After Prom:  The After Prom committee will return next year.  They are working hard completing the decorations for the After Prom which will take place May 27 from 1-5am.  More help is needed during the event.  Please volunteer.

Cluster News:  Jeanne Philbin will be our new Cluster Rep.  The CIP process begins Wednesday, May 17.

Magnet News:  June 13 is the Magnet Picnic.  There will be a Magnet Math Camp for incoming Magnet students June 18-22.  The MagPi picnic for incoming 9^th grade Magnet Students will be on September 8.

Web Report:  BlairPTSAnet has 683 members which are about ¼ of the student population.  Everyone should remember that the list serve does NOT reach the majority of the Blair population.  The MBHSAnnouncement list only has 86 members (many of which are also on the PTSAnet).  We should talk up the announcement list so that individuals know that they can get announcements only if they desire, and perhaps that way we would reach more families. 
BlairPTSAnet gets about 250 messages per month – this will probably increase in the late summer/fall with the new principal appointment.  The announcement list averages 50 per month.  We receive approximately 500 page views per day on http://ptsa. mbhs.edu. 
We need to decide soon if we want to setup Membership thru ACTEVA again.  Last year we gained 25 on-line memberships for a total of $825.57.  We also set up the Citrus Sale with 277 cases ordered for a net profit of $5149.42.  ACTEVA requires a $100 setup fee for each special event (form).  Network for Good will continue.  They charge a processing fee off of each transaction rather than requiring a setup fee.

Blair Education Foundation:  The $16,000 remaining in the Blair Education Foundation will be spent for the benefit of Blair prior to Mr. Gainous departure on July 1.

Blair Alumni Association:  Mark Levin and Mr. Funk are in the process of updating/upgrading the Alumni directory.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 pm

Dates to remember:

Principal Selection Meetings:  May 22 7:00 pm, May 23 8:00 am

Prom:  May 26

After Prom:  May 27, 1-5:00 am

Graduation at the Comcast Center :  June 4, 9:00 am

PTSA BoD Meeting:  June 6, 7:00 pm

PTSA General Membership Meeting:  June 6, 7:30 pm

Incoming 9^th grade picnic:  June 7, 6:30-8:00 pm

Program for Mr. Gainous:  June 12, 4-8:30 pm

            4-7:00 pm Open House in SAC

            7:30 – 8:00 pm Program in Auditorium