DSA PTSA EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING

Media Center, DSA

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

 

 

In Attendance   Lyleen Collins, Jeff, Goll, Trudy Wensell, Shirley Violand-Jones, Deborah Iden, Jill Lowery, David Hawks, Earle Manhertz, Sarah Jane Huber, James Van Farowe, Jackie Bryant

 

Call to Order  President Lyleen Collins called the meeting to order at 5:35 pm. 

 

Request for Funds  Mr. Van Farowe, 7th grade math teacher, requested funds to support the Math Counts club.  The registration fee to take part in competition in February is $120 and the registration deadline is at the end of the week.  Parents of those students will be invited to make a tax-deductible donation to the PTSA if they so choose.  Deborah Iden made a motion to approve the funds, seconded by Shirley Violand-Jones.  The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

 

Review of Minutes   Minutes of the DSA PTSA Executive Board meeting of November 12, 2008 were reviewed.    Deborah Iden made a motion to approve the minutes, seconded by Trudy Wensell, and the motion carried unanimously by voice vote.

 

Principal’s Report            Mr. Hawks announced that there are many upcoming concerts this week and next.  Next week there will be a middle and high school assemblies to give students a chance to perform for each other.  After the holidays, exams will begin on January 12.  The Site Based  School Improvement Team will meet next week.  New PE and Science teachers have been hired.  Students will select classes for next year on an earlier timetable due to requirements from DPS.  Auditions for arts pathways will begin the same week of exams in January.  Several members of the PTSA board expressed interest in receiving more communication from the school about issues such as arts pathways and procedures for seniors (e.g., requesting transcripts).  There is interest in making connections with the staff of the new Durham Performing Arts Center in terms of conducting clinics for our students.  Mr. Hawks plans on making a donation to the PTSA at the band concert tomorrow night.  The Pep Rally has been moved to the end of January or early February. 

 

If there is a push from DSA parents to replace rather than repair the Carr Building, DPS may be receptive.  It is more cost effective to build a new structure, otherwise significant cost is invested in addressing problems of asbestos, lead, mold, temperature and humidity.  Safety concerns for students are significant. 

 

Treasurer’s Report   Shirley Violand-Jones distributed a copy of the year-to-date budget and reported the following:

 

Booster Club Report   Shirley Violand-Jones, Booster Club liaison, reported that the Booster Club will sponsor a dance after the basketball game on December 19, 2008.

 

 

Reflections Report    Reflections is a PTA-sponsored district, state and national competition in dance choreography, music composition, film/video production, photography, literature, and visual arts.  Each school can send up to three entrants in each arts area.  Jeff Goll reported that he initially did all marketing regarding this program to the teachers.  After an initial modest response following a staff meeting, materials were distributed to teachers’ mailboxes and three emails were sent about the program.  Thus far there are two entries in literature and three possible but questionable dance entries.  This is a disappointing response.  Direct marketing to students in coming years is recommended to try to improve response.  This program was initially started by PTAs because there are limited opportunities in many schools; at DSA there are so many opportunities that it may be less attractive to students.  There has been feedback that some teachers have not done an effective job in advertising the program. Although we have five entries than we had last year, we would like the program to be more successful.

 

Site Based School Improvement Team   Earle Manzhertz reported that at the most recent meeting there was discussion of the problems with obtaining reliable, qualified, known substitutes now that there is a new computerized system. 

 

DSA Construction      April Davis, Larry & Bernice Ravell, and Lyleen Collins attended the DPS Board of Education Be Our Guest Dinner.  At that meeting they learned that the construction on the Carr Building is not planned until 2011.  The PTSA will advocate for an earlier start date on Carr renovations/replacement due to safety concerns.  The PTSA has decided to form the DSA Facilities Safety Initiative and will schedule a committee meeting in early January to further discuss this issue.

 

The meeting was adjourned by President Collins at 6:45 pm.

 

The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 14, 2009 at 5:30 pm in the Community Lounge.

 

Respectfully submitted by Jill Lowery, Secretary