LaGrange Middle School PTA

September 12, 2007 6:00pm Meeting Minutes

Attendees: Donna Bolner, Lisa Capuani, Julie Curran, Carole Delia, Christine Fiore, Eric Fiore, Linda Herman, Pauline Herr, Lisa Kane, Alice Kuch, Jean Malicio, Monica Metty, Toni Reyes, Eric Schetter, Laura Taravella, Sue Thoma

Welcome by new president: Julie Curran.

Meeting called to order 6:00pm.

Julie welcomed everyone.

May 2007 meeting minutes approved.

Treasurer’s Report – Julie Curran for Nita Ballantyne.

Reviewed and approved reports for June, July, and August. Julie Curran

Budget:

• Arlington PTA Council will be checking PTA financial records to make sure we are spending money correctly per the tax rules (money must be spent evenly on every child).
• $350 line items added for 6 th and 7 th grade each, to equal the dollars spent on 8 th grade moving up.
• Deleted recycle line item – no one volunteered. Will work on someone to take it over (maybe one of the clubs?).
• Student Scholarship Fund will be moved to Misc. line item in budget.
• Budget was approved.

Correspondence Report – L. Capuani

Lisa received thank you cards from several teachers for lunch at end of last school year.

Reminder: Please remember to update new email addresses. Send to Lisa Capuani.

President’s Report: Julie Curran

• Kids Safe Online – free event in Albany.
• PTA Advocate and Action Award – Julie has application if anyone is interested.
• NYS PTA Convention – Nov. 16-18, Albany. PTA has funds available if anyone would like to attend.
• Reflections – Monica Metty has offered to chair. Theme is “I can make a difference by…”
• The LMS PTA website is now linked by NYS PTA site.

Principal’s Report – E. Schetter

• Lots of work over the summer including new floors at LMS.
• New staff include: health, technology, math, and special education teachers.
• Assistant principal Chris Ruggierro left and LMS is currently screening applicants for the job. 60 applicants will be reduced to 5 and then a committee will review and decide.
• Open house is 9/20. Noon – 2:07pm and 7pm – 9:07pm. Adults only. Students will be dismissed at 10am.
• 6 th grade movie night will be 9/28. Ms. Peluso is coordinating.
• Bomb scare communication from Mr. Pepe on 9/12:
  ”At approximately 7:30 AM, 911 dispatch received an anonymous call that bombs had been place in three unidentified Dutchess County schools.  The NYS Police contacted Dr. Pennoyer, Superintendent of Dutchess County BOCES, who in turn contacted the county’s 13 school districts.  While the NYS Police did not view this as credible threat, all Arlington schools were put on alert as a precaution.  Law enforcement was present at Arlington High School as an added security measure.  At this time, law enforcement has identified the alleged caller, a Dutchess County student, and it has been determined that this was an unfortunate prank. 
  
  The Arlington Central School District’s Safety Plan includes specific protocols for dealing with this type of threat.  As always, safeguarding our students and staff is a top priority of our school district.” 
• Police arrested an individual very quickly.

Committee Reports:

• Gift Wrap (and cookie dough) – S. Thoma
  Orders are due back September 24.
  Orders will arrive for pickup on Nov. 7 è 2pm – 8pm.
  If order is small enough, students will take home on the bus.
  Cookie dough order will come in later.
  Fundraiser is not participating in prizes this year but LMS receives additional 2% on net.
  In lieu of prizes, Best Buy gift cards will be given away in drawings for students who have submitted orders each week.
  Lisa Capuani recommended a link to Sally Foster be put on LMS PTA website.
• Membership
  Teacher’s breakfast will be end of Oct./early Nov. Membership goal is to get 100% teacher participation.
  Membership table at 6 th grade locker night. Membership will also be at Open House. Kim Hartson is looking for volunteers to assist at Open House (noon and 7pm).
• Newsletter
  Deadline for submissions is Oct. 1. Newsletter will go out with progress reports.
  Julie will include book fair dates (12/6-12/13), Concert dates (12/5, 12/6, 12/10 with snow date 12/12), gift wrap article, reflections, and membership.
• Math, Science and Technology Expo is March 15 at the high school, with snow date March 16.
• Art Fair is March 29.

Miscellaneous:

• NYSSMA will be held at LMS April 4-5. Mr. Tiskowitz

• Books have been ordered with reference to the PTA gift to the library at the end of the last school year. – Pauline Herr.

Meeting adjourned at 7:10pm.

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LaGrange Middle School PTA

October 10, 2007 7:00pm Meeting Minutes

Attendees: Julie Curran, Eric Fiore, Christine Fiore, Monica Metty, Gwen Owens, Donna Bolner, Alice Kuch, Eric Schetter, Pam Perrotta, Nita Ballantyne, Linda Herman, Jean Malicia, Lisa Capuani, Bill Curran, Laura Taravella and Christine Simone.

Welcome by Julie Curran.

• Meeting called to order 7:00pm.
• Pauline Herr gave a presentation on electronic resources available at LMS. See Pauline for details and logging on from home instructions.
• September 2007 meeting minutes approved.
• December LMS PTA meeting is cancelled.

Treasurer’s report – Nita Ballantyne

Minimal activity last month (membership, 8 th grade moving up day 2007).

Correspondence report – Lisa Capuani

Membership and fund raising brochures were received.

President’s report – Julie Curran

• Julie circulated a pamphlet on Raising Healthy Children provided by the National PTA.
• Julie discussed a new fund raiser – www.useyourphoto.com. It is minimal to no cost to the PTA, but the PTA will receive 10% of all sales and if we sign up by Oct. 31, the PTA gets 20% of all sales. The website/business provides custom cards from your digital pictures. The executive board approved the new fund raiser. Flyers will go out soon.

Principal’s report – Eric Schetter

• The Community Service Club is collecting new and used coats in the lobby of the school thru the end of the month.
• LaGrange Middle School will start participating in a recycling program. There will be green bins in the cafeteria for paper and plastic recyclables and Royal Carting will pick up.
• Started interviewing candidates for assistant principal. Hoping to announce new assistant principal by next PTA meeting (Nov. 14).
• BOE meeting will be held at LMS on Oct. 23 at 7:30pm in the cafeteria. Cookies, punch, cider, and coffee are needed.
• Congratulations to Noxon Road Elementary School on receiving the Blue Ribbon School award.
• Children were evacuated from Noxon at noon time on October 10 due to an asbestos test. School opened the next day after new test came back positive. Emergency procedures were followed for dismissing children.
• Starting October 11, new security system will be used. Anyone entering the school must show license or picture ID before getting buzzed into LMS.
• The school district is looking at better systems to communicate with parents when situations warrant it, such as the bomb scare in September.
• Halloween dance will be Thursday Oct. 25 for 7 th and 8 th grade students. Costumes may be worn, but no masks.
• Conference Day is scheduled for October 26. Students do not report to school.
• LMS is looking at starting an in school suspension program. A committee has been formed to figure out how to run the program. The goal is to be up and running in a month.

Arlington Council Report – Monica Metty

• New security system implementation was discussed.
• Notification options being explored.
• Pete Warner on the BOE has stepped down because of job conflict. The board is interviewing replacement candidates.
• Mr. Pepe is speaking on Arts in Education at the NYS PTA convention, November 16-18 in Albany.
• Lego leagues are going strong (K-8). Still trying to get LSM teacher rep. It is an after school program. IBM Funded. Will start soon at LMS.
• October 11 – Arlington Foundation golf fund raiser.

Committee Reports:

• Reflections – Monica Metty.
  Deadline for entry form is October 12 but Monica will take them later.
  30 applications so far.
  January 31 – LSM Reflections reception at 7pm.
• Gift wrap – Sue Thoma.
  No update.
• Membership – Julie Curran for Kim Hartson
  229 members so far.
• Teacher breakfast – Lisa Kane
  November 8 (snow day is November 9).
  If interested in helping, meet at 6:15am on day of breakfast.
  Offering free lunch for 100% participation by LMS staff.
  Raffle drawings for gift certificates to the book fair.
• Newsletter – Julie Curran
  Newsletter is going out with the progress reports.
• Spirit wear form will go out with progress reports too.
• Book fair – Pam Perrotta
  Will attend training session in New Paltz.
  Book fair dates are December 6-13.

Meeting adjourned at 8:15pm.

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