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Issaquah High School PTSA, Unit 2.6.45

General Membership Meeting

February 11, 2005, 9:30 am

Held at IHS Library

 

Call to Order

Mary Lou Pauly called the meeting to order at 9:33 am.  20 members signed in.

Secretary's Report

Deborah Parsons is filling in for Sue Jacobson.  The minutes for the January 14 meeting were sent out by e-mail.  Accepted as presented.

 

Treasurer's Report

Karen May presented the financial report.  We have $38,963 balance on hand.  Filed for audit.

 

President's Report

Acknowledgements

Nancy Campi welcomed Issaquah School Board member Mike Winkler.

Council Report

Nancy Campi reported on the February 10 Issaquah PTSA Council meeting.

The District is starting up an e-mail newsgroup.  Sign on at the District website.

Gradebook/Family Access is in the works.  Teachers are now testing it.

Volunteers for Issaquah Schools (VIS) is looking for financial support, and a representative from each school to work on the Levy/Bond campaign.  Deborah Parsons volunteered to represent IHS.

The District Advisory Team (DAT) is looking for comments.  Email them to Marianne Kersten. She will present a report next month.

Issaquah Schools Foundation (ISF) is looking for a liaison from each school.

The Bell Times Committee presented a report at the Council meeting.  There are three options:  1. Push back most schools by 15 minutes, except for the already later starting elementary schools (additional cost: ~$250,000);  2. No change (no additional cost);  3: Push back all schools by 15 minutes (no additional cost).  Mike Winkler asked that if we want option 1, we need to be willing to say what else should be cut to provide the funds.  The PCFC will need to start 10 minutes before the high schools in order to give the students time to move between campuses.

Upcoming dates:
WASL Information Meeting: 3/22, 3/24, 7 PM, IMS

State Reflections Reception: 3/19, Tyee MS

Middle School Math Presentation: 3/16, Maywood PTSA Meeting, 6:30

Principal's Report

Paula Phelps thanked us for the cards, grants, and especially the parent involvement and PTA presence at staff meetings.

The IHS culture of problem-solving is excellent.

She reported that in the last month, 3 Saturdays have seen over 500 visitors to our campus:  an ROTC event, Eastshore vocal music festival, Eastshore instrumental music festival.  Thank you to the parents who have participated.  There are also swimming, wrestling and gymnastics events.

On the AP Honors/HS Planning night, they were expecting 75-200 people; over 600 people showed up.  The event generated a lot of planning discussions among the kids.  Staff is looking into how to make this event even better.

The Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a spelling bee (for adults).  Superintendent Janet Barry has invited IHS kids to participate.  On May 17, 7 pm at the Village Theater there will be a "spell-off", then the best 3 will go on to the event.

The counselors have been very busy with schedule changes and class schedule planning for next year, but should now be available again to meet with the kids.

Paula handed out schedule for the WASL testing period April 19-28.  Freshmen will be taking the ITED and working on their culminating project.  Sophomores and some Juniors will be working on the WASL.  Other Juniors and Seniors will arrive later on Wednesday.

They are finalizing the job description for the new Athletic Director.  That job would begin in August.

The kids were fabulous during the recent bomb threat.  They followed instructions with minimal argument.  They had to be bussed offsite, then offloaded and directed to their appropriate busses for the ride home.

 

Staff Report

Susan Graham and Shannon Ellis were absent—no report.

 

Site Council Report

Teresa Robinson reported on Site Council.  The tech info from the survey has been returned.  They are discussing how to expand the basic technology skills.

Three students did a presentation on bringing Bobby Seale (co-founder of the Black Panthers) in to do a presentation on diversity week.  The students are learning how to handle a controversial subject and make it work effectively.

The next meeting is March 16.

 

Legislation Report

Deborah Parsons reported on the upcoming PTA Focus Day on February 17.  If you can't attend, please e-mail or phone your legislators on that day to be a part of the "show of force" for PTA.  She distributed some talking points to help people get their messages started.

Mike Winkler talked about the recent visit to Olympia by the Olympia Coalition, to testify on the levy and teacher salary grandfathering issue.  He encouraged everyone to contact their legislators.

He also talked about the two education funding study bills that are "on the table" right now.  One is for K-12 and can be done by December; the other is for P-16 and would take about 5 years to complete.

 

VP Reports

Membership

Nothing to report.

Fundraising

Nothing to report.

Volunteers

The kids were great during the class registration that took place last week.

 

Committee Reports

Awards

Deed Chase distributed nomination forms for Golden Acorn and Outstanding Educator.  The forms are also available on the website.  The deadline to turn them in is Monday, February 14.

Freshman Campus Plan

Lorry Primrose reported that the PCFC will not have a separate PTA, but will be governed by a committee made up of a Vice President-Freshman Campus from each of the two high schools.  The expenses will be split 50-50, but can be reassessed later as the population changes.

Website Deadline

Susan Hegedus said the deadline for the website updates is "today".

 

Unfinished Business

Funds Requests

Jeff Berka has resubmitted his grant for up to $1500 to help fund a trip to Ireland and bring back items to be integrated into a curriculum for his students and to share with the other social studies teachers.  There was much discussion about whether this grant would benefit the kids, or falls into the category of continuing education for the teacher.

·                                 Motion: Lorry Primrose moves to decline the grant.  Marsha Fritz seconds. 7 yes; 3 no; 5 abstain.  The motion carries.

 

New Business

 

Adjourn

The meeting was adjourned at 11:45 am.

Our next meeting will be on March 11 in the Issaquah High School Library.

 

Deborah Parsons
Temporary PTSA Secretary