University Elementary School

Minutes of General Board Meeting September 11, 2008

The meeting was called to order at 8:45 am.

See the attached sign-in sheet for members in attendance.  We have sufficient attendance to have a quorum.

We began the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance.  We observed a moment of silence in honor of those who lost their lives in the 9/11 tragedy.

Kelli Finigan had an excused absence.   Jen Wilson had an unexcused absence.

The minutes of the General Board meeting of May, 2008 were approved. 

The agenda was approved.

Financial Report – Susan Laschi

A motion was made by Sheri Peters to remove Scott Diaz as a signatory on the checking account and add Susan Laschi as a signatory on the checking account. The motion was approved.

Susan Laschi presented the checks to be ratified for May, June, July, and August 2008.  A motion was made by Jeff Rickert to accept the checks to be ratified for May, June, July and August 2008.  Motion passed.

The Treasurer’s Report for May, June, July, and August 2008 was presented.  A motion was made by Susan Laschi to accept the Treasurer’s Report for May, June, July, and August 2008.  Motion passed.

She presented the budget for 2008- 2009.

Mr. Rickert announced that we are allowed to use the overage for transition costs.

We still need donation for transition activities.  The overage is not enough to cover our activities for this year.

Scott Diaz proposed if we can project the amount of money we will send to Wildwood and Weathersfield so we can know how much we can spend.  We will discuss more about this at the next meeting when we have exact numbers.

Patti Croke asked about the state budget cuts.  Mr. Rickert expects the cuts to be 6%.

Christine Hardison reported that the yearbook expense will increase due to a hardback cover and more content this year.

President’s Report – Sheri Peters

Thank you to Curstin Aupperle for hosting the Back to School Teacher’s Luncheon and the PTA meeting snacks.

Thank you to all the volunteers who helped at the Back to School BBQ.

We need a chair for Fall Festival and Reflections. 

Kathleen Leonard volunteered to be the Room Parent Coordinator.

1^st VP of Programs Report – Angela Samona & Kelli Finigan

Angela Samona reported that Walk to School Day will be October 8, 2008.

The Ned Show was a free assembly in exchange for selling yo-yos after school the following week. This is not a fundraiser.

The Book Fair will be September 23, 2008 to September 26, 2008.  Daddy Donut Day on September 23, 2008 will kick off the Book Fair.

It was suggested we will have Mommy Muffin Morning during Read Across America Week.

2^nd VP of Fundraising – Patti Davis

Thank you to all the volunteers for the BBQ. 

We need a Fall Festival Chair.  Fall Festival is October 25, 2008 from 12-4.

3^rd VP of Membership – Curstin Aupperle

Volunteer training is September 15, 2008 at 8:45 am and 7:00 pm.

We need donations for the earthquake kits to replace all expired items.

93 families (114 kids) have joined the PTA.

74 have made one time donations.

4^th VP of Technology – Jen Wilson

 No report.

Principal’s Report –  Jeff Rickert

Mr. Rickert  told us that other schools also ask for a higher One Time Donation and did fundraising.

Our website is under construction.  We need someone who knows HTML to finish it.  There is a template to use.  We need a VP of technology.

Star Testing Results are in. Our 5^th graders scored in the 85% - advanced.  We were the third highest in the district.  Our score is the same as last year, 877!  It was noted that different questions are asked on the testing each year and that the scores are not comparable year to year.

He also reported about the Transition Committee.  Wildwood and Weathersfield are not going to combine their Fall Festivals with ours as previously planned.  They will participate with a game booth and info booth from each school.   We will plan movie nights together.

The Golf Tournament has been postponed until March.

We have 276 students this year, down from 331 last year.  We lost 30 students due to declining enrollment. Our empty classroom will be put to good use with an Art & Music room, a PE/reading/TV studio room, and a science room.

An email from Jeff Baarstad indicated that the city will work with us to get crossing guards and traffic concerns addressed.

Recess and lunch schedules have been changed.

There will be a table set up tonight at the Back to School Night for the One Time Donations.

Unfinished business – none

New business/Announcements- none

The next general board meeting will be October 9, 2008 at 8:45 am.

There being no additional business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:55 am.

Respectfully submitted,

Leanne D’Amico

Secretary