Montgomery Blair High School PTSA

Minutes of PTSA Board of Directors Meeting --- July 21, 2008

Blair PTSA Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

July 21, 2008, 8:30pm
Location: Blair SAC

Facilitator: Bob Gillette
Time Keeper: Pete Lafen
Recorder: Sudha Murthy

Attendees: Bob Gillette, Pete Lafen, Carol Smalls, Beth Martin, Dave Ottalini, Megan Scribner, Sudha Murthy, Andrew and Katya Partan

Bob called the meeting to order around 8:40 pm.

Treasurer's Report:

Bob summarized the Treasurer report since Nancy Newton and Walter Mulbry could not attend the meeting. We have around $19,500 carry over for 2008-09. We did not spend all the budgeted expenses. We would be revising our funding practice for next year with smaller size funds, but there would be more of them.

Membership Form:

The membership form had to be revised due to the new law in effect (Maryland House Bill 90 Consumer Protection - Personal Information Protection Act Effective January 1, 2008 covering all profit and nonprofit organizations operating in the state of Maryland, requiring that they have a privacy policy to protect consumers from misuse of their personal data, including name, address, account numbers and other information which when placed together can identify the individual.)

. The form has been revised to have a $5 membership fee for students, staff and faculty. The board approved the change. Other edits suggested included

- Change Blair Faculty and Staff

- Add address to fund raising form stating the purpose and that it will be discarded.

- Remove 'advocate' on the enrollment form

New Business/Announcements:

- Period scheduling changes is still being discussed by the school (to have 7/8 hour day on Columbus day, having a second semester open house day, having odd/even days on specific days of the week etc.)

- Jennifer Croft from Career Center is requesting the PTA to fund 32 copies of the book for a new at risk book club. They would like to order the books before school starts.

- School has spent a lot of money and energy to get AYP last year. They used a lot of their slush funds. The PTA should try to subsidize part of that so that the school does not have to use too much of their funds. The results of AYP will be known in August. The school would have to get AYP for at least 2 years in a row and it is really important for the school.

- The PTA would also like to start a Blair Ambassador's group. This would be Blair students who would help new students who are transfers or who join during the school year (not incoming freshman). There is no process in place to help the new kids to acclimatize with the school.

-The fountain has not been installed yet. The PTA will be following up on it.

- The PTA does not have a policy in place to fund students/parents who die. It was unknown who had dedication rights.

- Pete Lafen had met with other DCC High School Presidents. One of the new proposals include the PTA reserving two rooms every day for any after school activities it would like to advocate. At Kennedy High School, one of the rooms would be for Peer-Peer Mentoring. Another will be used for providing driving classes through the school year. Kennedy sought proposals from three commercial driving schools and would share in the revenue from the classes. Students would benefit by having a driver education class conveniently located in the school, scheduled in the immediate after school hours. The presidents also suggested having DCC wide sports competitions (Swimming, Cross Country) with a rotating cup for the winning team. Another proposal discussed was developing a DCC rowing club as a sport that could include freshman or sophomore under more flexible academic eligibility standards.

The meeting was adjourned around 9:30