Hillsboro PTSA
December 7, 2006 Board Meeting Minutes
Attendance: Sally Goodrich, Sherry Eckles, Bob Lawson, Meri Kock, Alice Hunt, Jennie Scott, Mike Cook, Cam Ray, Barbara Nash, Beth Kindig, T Reese, Margie Hunter.
President Sally Goodrich called the meeting to order at 7:00.
Executive Committee: Alice Hunt reported $7,685 in teacher requests to date. Full list of items attached. Alice will email a report of these purchases to the faculty and encourage them to submit additional requests.
Principal's Report: Hillsboro students and faculty sponsors attended NCCJ Camp Mini Town. Ms. Tamara Scott was pleased with our student's participation. The school will look at ways to share what was learned through Burro Time.
First semester exams are coming up - three half days.
Advertising on the sports fields is close to being a reality. Details should be available second semester, so it is likely we could have advertising during spring sports.
Goodwill gave the school 25 $15.00 gift certificates which are being distributed to students with need through the faculty.
Rhea County sent a delegation from its high school to study our one lunch program. They talked with students and teachers and though skeptical at first were impressed. There is also an upcoming visit by a group from Singapore.
Councilman Jim Shulman designated $40,000 of his discretionary funds to Hillsboro. Mr. Lawson is trying to find a "project" acceptable to Metro.
ADA is working on a ramp at the south entrance and will be redoing bathroom stalls and some sinks for compliance.
Various school groups have been busy this month - SophistiCats, theater, KnitWits, football State Championship game.
Channel 4 filmed a segment on Mr. Sawyer and Ms. Frensley for the 10:00 newscast Dec. 7 recognizing their national awards. Mr. Lawson praised other faculty such as Mr. Swihart and Ms. Peterson for their work with outside academic organizations.
Announcements: Sally shared the following information...
Directories are available for $1.00
Hillsboro will be Open Enrollment next year. Applications are Feb. 1-28.
Thanks to Stephanie Brakefield for her work in organizing a successful Open House Nov. 9. Also thanks to those parents who helped and to Elizabeth Rogers and Kay West for refreshments.
Tour guides are needed for second semester.
There is an informative brochure from Scholastic on social hosting and underage drinking liability. You may get a copy from Sally. We will try to have it posted on the website.
There will be parent seminars covering various topics once a month at the Hampton Inn in Green Hills.
The PENCIL Foundation would like all public school volunteers to keep track of their volunteer hours. There is an online site, and Sally has easy directions for participating.
Thanks to Mary Pfeiffer and Beth Kindig for the Faculty Breakfast Nov. 7.
Faculty Holiday Lunch is Dec. 20.
The KnitWits Knitwear sale is Dec. 11 at Macke's in Green Hills' Grace's Plaza from 5 to 7 p.m. It was suggested that we have a table for those businesses that donated supplies (three or four people) and have the PTSA offer a free appetizer and drink that evening in recognition of their generosity.
Five summit meetings on the effectiveness of education in Tennessee are being held around the state this year, and the Tennessee PTA has been asked to identify five parents interested in attending. Contact Sally for more information.
Treasurer's Report: See attached. Sherry Eckles pointed out a minor accounting error which will be fixed. Budget and spending are on track for the year.
Cluster Report: [From Mary Kennedy and Paula Jennings to Sally]
We are planning a cluster-wide meeting to discuss the Uniform Dress proposal. Possible date is Jan. 18 in the Hillsboro auditorium.
Dec. 12 the school board is voting on the balanced vs. traditional calendar for 2008-2009.
Feedback is needed on the 2007-2008 budget regarding what should NOT be cut. Cuts are expected as no new funds are in the offing. Call or email Mary Kennedy with your thoughts.
Volunteers are needed Friday (Dec. 8) and/or Monday (Dec. 11) to iron labels on knitted items and price them in the Guidance office for the sale.
Guidance Report: Meri Kock reported that the middle school visits went very well. Moore and West End came in November this year and the program was beefed up with performances by theater, SophistiCats, cheerleaders and the Burro mascot. Feedback was quite positive.
December Gateway testing has gone very well.
Kick It Up for the second six weeks had to be postponed and is scheduled for Dec. 14. 153 freshmen will be getting tags. Don't know the numbers in the other grades.
Seniors are encouraged to keep up with the various deadlines for college admissions and scholarship applications as well as SAT/ACT test dates.
Committee Reports:
Invest - No deposits this month.
Membership - 324 members. Katharine Ray submitted the list and state dues ($891) by the Dec. 1 deadline.
Boosters - Mike Cook reminded everyone of the Fall Sports Awards Ceremony Jan. 11 at 5:30 in the auditorium. Mike also reported that the band appreciates the snare drum purchase through the PTSA and invites everyone to the holiday concert Dec. 14. West End Middle School will have a band concert in Hillsboro's auditorium Dec. 19. Hillsboro band will be choosing its new uniform soon. Right now they are planning on having black pants and considering gold jacket with school crest. As a fundraiser the band will also be selling Italian Ices during winter and spring sporting events and perhaps even during lunch one or two days a week depending on parent volunteers.
ListServ - Kathleen Franklin was praised for doing such an excellent job getting out timely and regular communications.
Newsletter - Deadline for February issue is Jan. 12.
Website - Some pages appear to need further updating. Margie Hunter will communicate with Dale Plummer on any needed changes.
Bookfair - The bookfair is making money so far this year, but it is increasingly variable and difficult with expensive IB books and unpredictable sales outcomes. Considered a valuable service to students and teachers, the bookfair should not be burdened with any fiscal expectations beyond breaking even. Penny Richardson has been helping T Reese by collecting money during the day.
Bluebird - Sally reported that parents are working on the talent lineup and will being setting up the rest next semester.
Old Business: Transfer student family outreach efforts suggested last month by T Reese were briefly discussed. It is possible to produce a list of these families from the school, but it may not be possible to share that with other parents due to confidentiality issues. A suggestion is to include a list of parent contacts per grade level in the First Day Packet, so interested families would have ready access if desired.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Margie Hunter
Upcoming Dates to Remember:
December 9 - Scats ‘N Cider, 7:00, auditorium
December 11 - Knitwear Sale, 5:00-7:00, Macke's Restaurant (2nd floor, Grace's Plaza)
December 14 - Hillsboro Concert Winds Holiday Program, 6:00, auditorium
December 19-21 - EXAMS
December 22-January 7 - Winter Holidays
PTSA Meeting, 7:00, Library
HILLSBORO IS AN OPEN ENROLLMENT SCHOOL FOR 2007-2008
ENROLLMENT TIME PERIOD IS FEBRUARY 1- 28, 2007
PTSA Teacher Requests to date (December 7, 2006)
2006-07
Approved in September
Ms. Snodgrass $800 Asian and African Theatre books
Ms. Justiniano $193 Spanish and English dictionaries
Ms. Diviney $699 LCD projector
Mr. Burdette $199 Digital e-maps
Approved in October
Ms. Perry $331 books for anatomy classes
Ms. Diviney $200 headphones for main recording studio x 5
Ms. Peterson $481 journals, DVDs, CDs, activities for all levels
(French Dept.)
Ms. Snodgrass $490 rights and music rental for fall musical
Ms. Wood $250 supplies for Life Skills greenhouse class
Mr. Swihart $120 two teams - quiz bowl tournament at MLK High
Ms. Woolridge $150 calculator
Mr. Groom $900 camcorders for mass media
Soc. St. Dpt. $588 LCD projector / Mr. Burdette
Nov/Dec
Bradshaw LCD projector $700
Davis AP material $614
King paper for architecture project $40
Geary snare drum $480
Scott ½ tuition - National Conference for Community and Justice 9 delegates and 3 volunteers $450
Pending
Mr. Roberts $2650 Ecology trip