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Issaquah High School

PTSA General Membership Meeting

March 11, 2005

 

The meeting was called to order at 9:45 a.m. by Mary Lou Pauly in the IHS library.

 

Secretary’s Report:

The minutes were accepted as written for the February General Membership Meeting.

 

Treasurer’s Report:

Mary Lou Pauly reported that cash on hand as of 2-28-05 was $39,519.55.  SAT Readiness Classes expenditures were $1578.00.  $500 was spent on the once-a-year “student funds.”  $1700 year-to-date has been spent on teacher grants.  $8800 has been spent so far out of $13,000 for grant requests.

 

President’s Report:

Acknowledgements:

Nancy Campi acknowledged Jiff Searing for his work on the SAT prep classes and Lori Anderson, Danielle Tilden & Sue Jacobson for their work on the Nominating Committee.

 

Housekeeping:

Two committees are being added for next year:  applause card committee & freshman campus ad hoc committee rep.  A reminder was given to fill out a “committee interest form” for next year.

We received a membership award for 10% increase in PTSA membership over last year.

PTSA is meeting once a month with Paula Phelps, Booster Club and Site Council.  Booster Club is currently working on raising funds for a new school weight room.  They have raised enough for Phase I, ordering equipment.  PTSA may become involved in Phase II, hiring trainers.  Booster Club made $19,000 plus $12,000 for the weight room during their recent Casino Night Fundraiser.

Dr. Barry is soon going to have another “coffee meeting” where she answers questions from the community.

ISD and IHS now each have E-News Groups which parents and community members can join on the website.

Elementary schools are changing their parent conferencing days to 2 days of no school next year rather than several ½ days.

 

Council Report & Calendar:

There was a very successful 5th grade transition meeting.

An Issaquah Schools Foundation liaison is needed from IHS.

 

Parent Ed:

March 28th Curriculum Forum for District Math and Tech Skills.

March 29th Comfortable Chaos Parent Ed at Cougar Ridge at 9:15 a.m.

 

DAT Report:

Marianne Kersten reported that DAT is: District Advisory Team.  It is similar to a site council at the district level and is in its second year.  It includes 6 parent reps, the superintendent, the presidents of each union, PTSA council rep.  They are still figuring out their role.  Some of the things they have discussed:  dress code, cell phone use & cheating, elementary conference times, bell times.  Between March 21st - April 1st a survey is coming out with 5 questions regarding the Learning Improvement Calendar.  There will be a separate one for parents, teachers, other employees and administrators.  This month they are talking about WASL and benchmarks being published.  Meetings are open but only members can contribute.  The IHS parent rep is Jim Saunders.

 

Principal’s Report:

Paula Phelps announced that the Quarterly Student Awards ceremony last week was outstanding.

A huge percentage of kids at IHS are doing very well.  A tiny percentage is “misguided.”  There was a recent fight before school behind the school.  A few students were expelled.  There was a major theft in the girls’ locker room.  People were caught and arrested.  Only one person involved was from IHS.  She was expelled.

A WASL schedule was passed around as well as next year’s school calendar, which is also on the school website.

March 29th will be a “Day of Respect.”  This will be a full day of school.  The “respect” activities will be for ½ day.

S.O.S. Club is really taking off.  They are getting suicide prevention information out to the other schools and community.  March 22nd will be an evening S.O.S. meeting at IHS.

Staff has most of its numbers for the freshman campus and is figuring out where staff will go.

It is now required by law to have a “student learning plan” for any 9th grade student who did not pass any part of the 7th grade WASL.  The plan is to push these students to where they need to be academically and to follow them to the 10th grade.  Another plan is in place if they fail the 10th grade WASL.  Parents are included in these plans.

There is a new “math lab” for students struggling in Algebra I.

 

Staff Report:

Susan Graham acknowledged and thanked Caryn Matusiefsky for coordinating the outstanding food for staff meetings.  She also acknowledged and thanked Jiff Searing for the very active SAT prep classes.

Deficiency reports are being mailed today (mid-3rd quarter).

It is a very anxious time for staff.  Staff is being pulled to the freshman campus, they are trying to lay out curriculum, and lots of testing is going on.

 

Site Council Report:

Nancy Campi reported that there was no February meeting.  The next meeting is March 16th.  WASL Information Nights are March 22 & 24 at IMS.

 

Legislation Report:

Deborah Parsons reported that Focus Day in Olympia was a huge success.  The governor’s office talked about the comprehensive P-16 version of the education funding study.  Senator Weinstein talked about his education funding study bill, which has the preferred, narrower K-12 scope.  Simple majority for school levies passed the House and is about 5 votes short in the Senate to send to the voters for a referendum.  The House bill on sex education passed and is now in the Senate.  Initiative #728 is being considered to be put back on the ballot as a .2% tax increase.

 

VP Reports:

Volunteers:

Susan Balkman reported that there is a critical shortage of volunteer chaperones for tomorrow night’s Tolo Dance.

 

Committee Reports:

Quarterly Awards:

Mary Lou Pauly reported that 40 students were recognized at last week’s ceremony.  The goal is to broaden the group of teachers participating in the nominating process.

 

Scholarships:

Peggy Wiggum reported that April 28th is the deadline for applications for the PTSA scholarships.  She is looking for committee members to help go through the applications.  The Scholarship Banquet is May 24th.  There are four $500 scholarships.

 

Teacher Appreciation Week:

Barb Cowen reported that the planning meeting is tentatively planned for March 22nd.  Teacher Appreciation Week is May 2-6.

 

Unfinished Business:

Mary Lou reviewed the Funding Guidelines form to fill out regarding your input and concerns.

 

Nancy Campi reported that Dana Bailey, the Assistant Principal from Pine Lake Middle School, is the new Principal for the Freshman Campus.

 

Grant Requests:

Bill Mokin has submitted a request for $999.00 plus tax for a video projector for his ELL classes.  These classes consist of all middle and high school ELL students in the Issaquah School District, about 60 students, all of whom attend IHS.  The projector would allow students to do their humanities presentations and peer review.  It helps ELL students with speaking and reading.

Motion: Marianne Kersten moved to fund the request.  Danielle Tilden seconds. Motion passed.

 

Rosie Gremmert has submitted a request for $483.00 for classroom purchases for her ASL (American Sign Language) students.

Motion: Danielle Tilden moved to fund the request.  Barb Cowen seconds.  Motion passed on condition that Ms. Gremmert has used her teacher grant.

 

New Business:

Nominating Committee:

Lori Anderson announced the slate of 2005-2006 PTSA Officers:

Co-Presidents:  Mary Lou Pauly & Jiff Searing

Co-VP Fundraising:  Marianne Kersten & Sue Burke

Co-VP Membership:  Nancy Kamitsuka & Caryn Matusiefsky

Co-VP Volunteers:  Susan Balkman & Sue Jacobson

Secretary:  Deborah Parsons

Treasurer:  Karen May

VP Freshman Campus:  Lorry Primrose

 

WA State PTA Convention:

Mary Lou announced the deadline for registering is April 18th.  We need to elect 5 delegates to attend.  Nominees are: Jiff Searing, Mary Lou Pauly, Deborah Parsons, Nancy Campi, Lorry Primrose.

Motion:  Susan Balkman moved to approve these nominees.  Nancy Kamitsuka seconds.

Motion passed.

 

Budget Committee:

Nancy Campi reported that an additional $400 (Totaling $1,000) is needed for water bottles, granola bars and juice boxes for each 10th grader during WASL testing.  A discussion took place for this committee to go over budget.  Unanimous agreement. Discussion ended.

 

Meeting adjourned at 11:20 a.m.