DSA PTSA EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING

DSA PTSA EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING
Media Center, DSA
Wednesday, February 11, 2009

In Attendance Lyleen Collins, Sarah Corey, Jeff Goll, David Hawks, Sarah Jane Huber, Deborah Iden, Kateri Hoekstra, Jill Lowery, Luann Pollack, Shirley Violand-Jones, Trudy Wensell

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

Review of Minutes Minutes of the DSA PTSA Executive Board meeting of January 14, 2009 were reviewed. Shirley Violand-Jones made a motion to approve the minutes, seconded by Deborah Iden, and the motion carried unanimously by voice vote.

Principal’s Report    The following information was provided by Mr. Hawks:
      There were three awards assemblies today. Bulldog tags were awarded to those who had achievements in academic, attendance & discipline categories. Medals were awarded to those on the A/B and A honor rolls. The Principal’s Award was given to students who are top students or the most improved; Mr. Hawks will talk to the teachers about steering this award exclusively to those who are the most improved. Gold Key scholastic awards were distributed. Three students received medals for their participation in a workshop in Washington, DC. Winner of the Geography Bee was recognized. About 25% of students did not receive any awards. Credit was given to PTSA for funding the awards. At the awards ceremonies, students were encouraged to start building resumes for college by striving for achievement.
     Today was an early release day, allowing teachers to work collaboratively.
     Registration is starting for the next school year. High school registration materials will go home starting next week.
     The 9th grade assembly will be held next week to provide information relevant to Senior Projects. An assembly for 11th graders and a night session for parents about Senior Projects will be held soon.
     DSA was recognized by the Magnet Schools of America as a school of excellence, the highest honor of the organization.

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

Income to date: $20, 051
Expenses to date: $7,301
Balance to date: $12, 749
Fall Fundraiser: $7,430
A mid-year audit was conducted this month. Results were acceptable, and minor discrepancies will be resolved at the end of the year.
The balance will be used for carryover for next year, operating expenses for the remainder of the year, and grants.

Kateri Hoekstra reported the following regarding grant requests:

A subcommittee met to review grant submissions in light of income, and recommendations are made to the Board as follows:
Total grants of $5800 are recommended; this compares to $6100 awarded last year.
Clubs, field trips and special projects were reviewed. This list of specific items and amounts was distributed.
Jeff Goll made a motion to approve the recommendations as listed, seconded by Trudy Wensell. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

Small Fundraisers Ms. Collins requested a volunteer to coordinate submissions of small fundraisers (e.g., Box Tops for Education, Campbell’s Soup).

Xpress Image The representative from Xpress Image indicated that DSA is in the queue to have a check printed for profits from DSA logo clothing sales, but it has not yet been received.

Booster Club Report Ms. Violand-Jones reported that the Booster Club is sponsoring a Valentine’s Day Dance on Friday, February 13, 2009. The middle school dance will take place from 4-6 pm, with the senior high dance to follow. Jon Kuczynski, President of the Booster Club for many years, was elected as DSA Volunteer of the Year, and his family represented him at the Durham Council of PTA’s dinner in honor of volunteers.

Site Based School Improvement Team Jeff Goll reported that the SBSIT discussed the renovations of the Carr Building, and members expressed interest in contributing to the process. The next meeting is scheduled for February 21, 2009.

Reflections Report Jeff Goll reported that one DSA entrant in the regional competition has moved on to the state level. The regional competition included students from Chapel Hill and Raleigh so there was a lot of competition. Mr. Goll is going to have the Reflections awards included in the daily announcement and announced in classes. Other ideas for recognition were suggested including announcing Reflections awards in the school newspaper and through DPS. There are line items in the budget for student awards and miscellaneous items. Jeff Goll made a motion that the PTSA fund a plaque and $20 gift cards from the Regulator Book Shop for the student winners, seconded by Sarah Jane Huber. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

Student Liaison Report Sarah Jane Huber reported that Homecoming and Spirit Week was last week, and a pep rally was held on Friday. The Student Council members are reviewing feedback about what went well and what could be improved, and are discussing what other activities they can coordinate beyond Homecoming. A faculty-student basketball will likely be held within the next month to follow-up on the popularity of the game at the pep rally.

Website Report Luann Pollack reported that the minutes of meetings from this school year have been posted on the PTSA website.

Teacher Liaison Report Sarah Corey reported that the teachers found it helpful to review the minutes from the DSA Facilities Safety Initiative attended by Mr. Osteen regarding the Carr Building. Questions arose about whether the PTSA will pursue testing on the safety of the drinking water and where classes will be moved during the renovations. Some of the Seniors (12-15) still need mentors for their Senior projects; mentoring will be state-mandated next year, and parent volunteers would be greatly appreciated. Mentors have to fill out a form and go through a background check through DPS in order to mentor. The PTSA will send out an email to members to promote the mentoring program.

Great Human Race This fund-raising activity for non-profit organizations will take place in Durham on March 21, 2009. The PTSA will coordinate this for DSA organizations (band, chorus, etc.) that want to participate. Each organization will receive 85% of pledged income and the remaining 15% goes to the Volunteer Center of Durham.

DSA Facilities Safety Initiative On March 11, 2009, the PTSA Executive Board Meeting will hold a brief business meeting, followed by the meeting with Mr. Osteen to review the results of the feasibility study, pending confirmation with Mr. Osteen’s schedule. Ms. Collins emailed Mr. Osteen about the taped-off water fountain and safety of the water dripping through the ceiling and will follow-up with him about the safety of the drinking water. Deborah Iden reported that representatives of Durham CAN (Communities Associations & Neighborhoods in Action) has invited her to attend their meeting on February 28, 2009. All are welcome. Mr. Hawks reported that DPS sent someone to talk with him about where to locate classes during the renovation. They have investigated several options; mobile units would not be easy to use without cutting down trees, and they have asked for current occupancy and floor plans to determine whether there is useable space in existing buildings. They are planning to have everyone out of the Carr Building by next fall. The feasibility study will be conducted as soon as bids have been reviewed from engineering companies. They want Mr. Hawks to name members of a committee to provide input on the renovation and have given him a formula for the composition of the committee. Teachers who will be using the space will be included. Ms. Corey reported that the teachers have expressed a preference that those who will benefit from the renovated Carr Building be those who are displaced during the renovations. Mr. Hawks reported that he NC Division of Environmental Health arrived to inspect the Carr Building at the end of January; the score was 89. According to Mr. Hawks, DPS has never heard of this group inspecting DPS Buildings. They took samples out of the walls, and the results have not yet come back.

The meeting was adjourned by President Collins at 7:20 pm.

The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at 5:30 pm in the Community Lounge.

Respectfully submitted by Jill Lowery, Secretary